Plate reduction press apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

A material  1  to be shaped is reduced and formed by bringing dies with convex forming surfaces, when viewed from the side of the transfer line of the material  1 , close to the transfer line from above and below the material  1 , in synchronism with each other, while giving the dies a swinging motion in such a manner that the portions of the forming surfaces of the dies, in contact with the material  1 , are transferred from the upstream to the downstream side in the direction of the transfer line.

[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/912,505, filed Jul. 26, 2001, which in turn is a division of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/308,293, filed May 12, 1999, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,341,516, issued Jan. 29, 2002, the entire disclosures ofwhich are considered to be part of the present disclosure and arespecifically incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a plate thickness reductionpress apparatus that transfers and reduces a slab, and the methodsconcerned with its use.

[0004] 2. Prior Art

[0005] 1. FIG. 1 shows an example of a roughing mill used for hotrolling, and the roughing mill is provided with work rolls 2 a, 2 barranged vertically opposite each other on opposite sides of a transferline S that transfers a slab-like material 1 to be shaped, substantiallyhorizontally, and backup rolls 3 a, 3 b contacting the work rolls 2 a, 2b on the side opposite to the transfer line.

[0006] In the above-mentioned roughing mill, the work roll 2 a above thetransfer line S is rotated counterclockwise, and the work roll 2 bunderneath the transfer line S is rotated clockwise, so that thematerial 1 to be shaped is caught between both work rolls 2 a, 2 b, andby pressing the upper backup roll 3 a downwards, the material 1 to beshaped is moved from the upstream A side of the transfer line to thedownstream B side of the line, and the material 1 to be shaped ispressed and formed in the direction of the thickness of the slab.

[0007] However, unless the nip angle θ of the material 1 to be shaped asit enters into the work rolls 2 a, 2 b is less than about 17°, slippingwill occur between the upper and lower surfaces of the material 1 to beshaped and the outer surfaces of both work rolls 2 a, 2 b, and the workrolls 2 a, 2 b will no longer be able to grip and reduce the material 1to be shaped.

[0008] More explicitly, when the diameter D of the work rolls 2 a, 2 bis 1,200 mm, the reduction Δt of a single rolling pass is about 50 mmaccording to the above-mentioned nip angle θ condition for the workrolls 2 a, 2 b, so when a material 1 to be shaped with a thickness T0 of250 mm is rolled, the thickness T1 of the slab after being reduced andformed by a roughing mill becomes about 200 mm.

[0009] According to the prior art, therefore, the material 1 to beshaped is rolled in a reversing mill, in which the material is movedbackwards and forwards while gradually reducing the thickness of theplate, and when the thickness of the material 1 to be shaped is reducedto about 90 mm, the material 1 is sent to a finishing mill.

[0010] Another system for reducing and forming the material 1 to beshaped according to the prior art is shown in FIG. 2; dies 14 a, 14 bwith profiles like the plane shape of dies for a stentering pressmachine are positioned opposite each other above and below a transferline S, and both dies 14 a, 14 b are made to approach each other andseparate from each other in the direction orthogonal to the direction ofmovement of the material 1 using reciprocating means such as hydrauliccylinders, in synchronism with the transfer of the material 1, whilereducing and forming the material 1 to be shaped in the direction of thethickness of the plate.

[0011] The dies 14 a, 14 b are constructed with flat forming surfaces 19a, 19 b gradually sloping from the upstream A side of the transfer linetowards the downstream B side of the line, and flat forming surfaces 19c, 19 d that continue from the aforementioned forming surfaces 19 a, 19b in a direction parallel to and on opposite sides of the transfer lineS.

[0012] The width of the dies 14 a, 14 b is set according to the platewidth (about 2,000 mm or more) of the material 1 to be shaped.

[0013] However, when the material 1 to be shaped is rolled with thereversing method using the roughing mill shown in FIG. 1, space isrequired at each of the upstream A and downstream B ends of the transferline S of the roughing mill, for pulling out the material 1 to be shapedas it comes out of the roughing mill, so the equipment must be long andlarge.

[0014] When the material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formed in thedirection of its plate thickness using the dies 14 a, 14 b shown in FIG.2, the areas of the forming surfaces 19 a, 19 b, 19 c and 19 d incontact with the material 1 to be shaped are much longer than those ofthe dies of a stentering press machine, and the contact areas increaseas the dies 14 a, 14 b approach the transfer line S, so that a largeload must be applied to each of the dies 14 a, 14 b, during reduction.

[0015] Furthermore, the power transmission members such as the eccentricshafts and rods for moving the dies 14 a, 14 b, the housing, etc. mustbe strong enough to withstand the above reducing loads, so each of thesemembers and the housing must be made large in size.

[0016] Moreover, when the material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formedin the direction of its plate thickness using the dies 14 a, 14 b, someof the material 1 is forced backwards towards the upstream A side on thetransfer line depending on the shape and the stroke of the dies 14 a, 14b, therefore, it becomes difficult to transfer the material 1 to beshaped to the downstream B side of the transfer line.

[0017] When the material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formed in thedirection of its plate thickness using the dies 14 a, 14 b shown in FIG.2, the height of the lower surface of the material 1 after being reducedby the dies 14 a, 14 b is higher than the height of the lower surface ofthe material 1 immediately before being reduced by the dies, by anamount corresponding to the reduction in thickness.

[0018] Consequently, the leading end of the material 1 to be shapedtends to droop downwards, therefore the table rollers (not illustrated)installed on the downstream B side of the transfer line, to support thematerial 1 being shaped, may catch the leading end of the material 1,possibly resulting in damage to both the table rollers and the material1 being shaped.

[0019] Recently, the flying-sizing press machine shown in FIG. 3 hasbeen proposed.

[0020] This flying-sizing press machine is provided with a housing 4erected on a transfer line S so as to allow movement of a material 1 tobe shaped, an upper shaft box 6 a and a lower shaft box 6 b housed inwindow portions 5 of the housing 4 opposite each other on opposite sidesof the transfer line S, upper and lower rotating shafts 7 a, 7 bextending substantially horizontally in the direction orthogonal to thetransfer line S and supported by the upper shaft box 6 a or the lowershaft box 6 b by bearings (not illustrated) on the non-eccentricportions, rods 9 a, 9 b located above and below the transfer line S,respectively, connected to eccentric portions of the rotating shafts 7a, 7 b through bearings 8 a, 8 b at the end portions thereof, rodsupport boxes 11 a, 11 b connected to intermediate portions of the upperand lower rods 9 a, 9 b by bearings 10 a, 10 b with spherical surfacesand housed in the window portions 5 of the housing 4 and free to slidevertically, die holders 13 a, 13 b connected to the top portions of therods 9 a, 9 b through bearings 12 a, 12 b with spherical surfaces, dies14 a, 14 b mounted on the die holders 13 a, 13 b, and hydrauliccylinders 15 a, 15 b whose cylinder units are connected to intermediatelocations along the length of the rods 9 a, 9 b by means of bearings andthe tips of the piston rods are connected to the die holders 13 a, 13 bthrough bearings.

[0021] The rotating shafts 7 a, 7 b are connected to the output shaft(not illustrated) of a motor through a universal coupling and a speedreduction gear, and when the motor is operated, the upper and lower dies14 a, 14 b approach towards and move away from the transfer line S insynchronism with the transfer operation.

[0022] The dies 14 a, 14 b are provided with flat forming surfaces 16 a,16 b gradually sloping from the upstream A side of the transfer linetowards the downstream B side of the transfer line so as to approach thetransfer line S, and other flat forming surfaces 17 a, 17 b continuingfrom the aforementioned forming surfaces 16 a, 16 b in a directionparallel to the transfer line S.

[0023] The width of the dies 14 a, 14 b is determined by the plate width(about 2,000 mm or more) of the material 1 to be shaped.

[0024] A position adjusting screw 18 is provided at the top of thehousing 4, to enable the upper shaft box 6 a to be moved towards or awayfrom the transfer line S, and by rotating the position adjusting screw18 about its axis, the die 14 a can be raised and lowered through therotating shaft 7 a, rod 9 a, and the die holder 13 a.

[0025] When the material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formed in thedirection of the plate thickness using the flying-sizing press machineshown in FIG. 3, the position adjusting screw 18 is rotatedappropriately to adjust the position of the upper shaft box 6 a, so thatthe spacing between the upper and lower dies 14 a, 16 b is determinedaccording to the plate thickness of the material 1 to be shaped byreducing and forming in the direction of plate thickness.

[0026] Next, the motor is operated to rotate the upper and lowerrotating shafts 7 a, 7 b, and the material 1 to be shaped is insertedbetween the upper and lower dies 14 a, 14 b, and the material 1 isreduced and formed by means of the upper and lower dies 14 a, 14 b thatmove towards and away from each other and with respect to the transferline S while moving in the direction of the transfer line S asdetermined by the displacement of the eccentric portions of the rotatingshafts 7 a, 7 b.

[0027] At this time, appropriate hydraulic pressure is applied to thehydraulic chambers of the hydraulic cylinders 15 a, 15 b, and the anglesof the die holders 13 a, 13 b are changed so that the forming surfaces17 a, 17 b of the upper and lower dies 14 a, 14 b, on the downstream Bside of the transfer line, are always parallel to the transfer line S.

[0028] However, the flying-sizing press machine shown in FIG. 3 has muchlarger contact areas between the forming surfaces 16 a, 16 b, 17 a and17 b of the dies 14 a, 14 b and the material 1 to be formed, compared tothe dies of a plate reduction press machine, and because theabove-mentioned contact areas increase as the dies 14 a, 14 b approachthe transfer line S, a large load must be applied to the dies 14 a, 14 bduring reduction.

[0029] In addition, the die holders 13 a, 13 b, rods 9 a, 9 b, rotatingshafts 7 a, 7 b, shaft boxes 6 a, 6 b, housing 4, etc. must be strongenough to withstand the reducing load applied to the dies 14 a, 14 b, sothat these members are made larger in size.

[0030] Also, the flying-sizing press machine shown in FIG. 3 may sufferfrom the problem that the leading and trailing ends of the material 1being reduced and formed are locally bent to the left or right, or witha camber so that when a long material 1 is being formed it generallywarps, unless the centers of the reducing forces from the dies 14 a, 14b on the material 1 to be shaped are in close alignment when thematerial 1 is reduced and formed by the upper and lower dies 14 a, 14 b.

[0031] 2. With a conventional rolling mill known in the prior art, inwhich a material is rolled between two work rolls, there is a reductionratio limit of normally about 25% due to the nip angle limitation.Therefore, it is not possible to reduce the thickness of a material by alarge ratio (for example, reducing a material from about 250 mmthickness to 30 to 60 mm) in a single pass, therefore three or fourrolling mills are arranged in tandem in a tandem rolling system, or thematerial to be rolled is rolled backwards and forwards in a reverserolling system. However, these systems are accompanied with practicalproblems such as the need for a long rolling line.

[0032] On the other hand the planetary mill, Sendzimir mill, clustermill, etc. have been proposed as means of pressing that allow a largereduction in one pass. However, with these rolling mills, small rollspress the material to be rolled at a high rotational speed, resulting ina great impact, therefore the life of the bearings, etc., is so shortthat these mills are not suitable for mass production facilities.

[0033] On the other hand, various kinds of press apparatus modified fromthe conventional stentering press machines have been proposed (forexample, Japanese patent No. 014139, 1990, unexamined Japanese patentpublication Nos. 222651, 1986, 175011, 1990, etc.).

[0034] An example of the “Flying-sizing press apparatus” according tothe unexamined Japanese patent publication No. 175011, 1990 is shown inFIG. 4; rotating shafts 22 are arranged in the upper and lower sides orthe left and right sides of the transfer line Z of a material to beshaped, and the bosses of rods 23 with a required shape are connected toeccentric portions of the rotating shafts 22, and in addition, dies 24arranged on opposite sides of the transfer line of the material to beshaped are connected to the tips of the rods 23; when the rotatingshafts 22 are rotated, the rods 23 coupled to the eccentric portions ofthe rotating shafts cause the dies 24 to press both the upper and lowersurfaces of the material 1 to be shaped, thereby the thickness of thematerial to be shaped is reduced.

[0035] However, the above-mentioned high-reduction means are associatedwith problems such as (1) a material to be reduced cannot be easilypressed by the flying-sizing apparatus in which the material is reducedas it is being transferred (2) the means are complicated with manycomponent parts, (3) many parts must slide under heavy loads, (4) themeans arc not suitable for heavily loaded frequent cycles of operation,etc.

[0036] With conventional high-reduction pressing means known in theprior art, the position of the dies is controlled to adjust thethickness of the material to be pressed by means of a screw, wedge,hydraulic cylinder, etc., and, as a result, there are the practicalproblems that the equipment is large, costly, complicated, and vibratesconsiderably.

[0037] 3. Conventionally, a roughing-down mill is used to roll a slab.The slab to be rolled is as short as 5 m to 12 m, and the slab is rolledby a plurality of roughing-down mills or by reversing mills in which theslab is fed forwards and backwards as it is rolled. In addition, areduction press machine is also used. Recently, because a long slabmanufactured by a continuous casting system has been introduced, thereis a demand for the continuous transfer of the slab to a subsequentpressing system. When a material is rough rolled using a roughing-downmill, the minimum nip angle (about 17°) must be satisfied, so thereduction limit Δt per pass is about 50 mm. Because the slab iscontinuous, reverse rolling is not applicable, so that to obtain thedesired thickness, a plurality of roughing-down mills must be installedin series, or if a single rolling mill is to be employed, the diameterof the work rolls should be very large.

[0038] Consequently, a reduction press machine is used. FIG. 5 shows anexample of such a machine in which the dies are pressed by sliders, toprovide a flying-press machine that can press a moving slab. Dies 32provided above and below the slab 1 are mounted on sliders 33, and thesliders 33 are moved up and down by the crank mechanisms 34. The dies32, sliders 33 and crank mechanisms 34 are reciprocated in the directionof transferring the slab, by the feeding crank mechanisms 35. The slab 1is conveyed by pinch rolls 36 and transfer tables 37. When the slab isbeing reduced, the dies 32, sliders 33 and crank mechanisms 34 are movedin the direction of transferring the slab by means of the feeding crankmechanisms 35, and the pinch rolls 36 transfer the slab 1 in synchronismwith this transfer speed. A start-stop system can also be used; the slab1 is stopped when the system is working as a reduction press machine andthe slab is reduced, and after completing reduction, the slab istransferred by a length equal to a pressing length, and then pressing isrepeated.

[0039] There are problems in the design and manufacturing cost of theaforementioned roughing-down mill with large diameter rolls, and the useof rolls with a large diameter results in a shorter life for the rollsbecause of the low rolling speed and difficulty in cooling the rolls.With the reduction press machine using sliders and feeding crankmechanisms shown in FIG. 5, the cost of the equipment is high becausethe mechanisms for reciprocating the sliders, etc., in the direction ofmovement of a slab are complicated and large in scale. In addition, thesliders vibrate significantly in the vertical direction. With areduction press machine using a start-stop system, the slab must beaccelerated and decelerated repeatedly from standstill to transferspeed, and vice versa. The slab is transferred using pinch rolls andtransfer tables, and these apparatus become large due to the highacceleration and deceleration.

[0040] 4. When a material is reduced by a large amount, according to theprior art, long dies were used to reduce the material while it was fedthrough the dies by the length thereof during one or several pressings.Defining the longitudinal and lateral directions as the direction inwhich the pressed material is moved and the direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction, respectively, the material to be pressed bya large amount in the longitudinal direction is pressed by dies that arelong in the longitudinal direction using single pressing or by means ofa plurality of pressing operations while feeding the material to bepressed in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 6 shows an example of theabove-mentioned reduction press machine, and FIG. 7 illustrates itsoperation. Tile reduction press is equipped with dies 42 above and belowa material 1 to be pressed, hydraulic cylinders 43 for pressing down thedies 42, and a frame 44 that supports the hydraulic cylinders 43. Apressing operation is described using the symbols L for the length ofthe dies 42, T for the original thickness of the material 1 to bepressed, and t for the thickness of the material after pressing. FIG. 7(A) shows the state of the dies 42 set to a location with thickness T ona portion of material to be pressed next, adjacent to a portion withthickness t which has been pressed. (B) shows the state in which thedies have pressed down from the state (A). (C) is the state in which thedies 42 have been separated from the material 1 being pressed, that hasthen been moved longitudinally by the pressing length L, and completelyprepared for the next pressing, which is the same state as (A).Operations (A) to (C) are repeated until all the material is reduced tothe required thickness.

[0041] The longer the dies, the greater the force that is required forreduction, so the reduction press machine must be large. With a pressmachine, pressing is usually repeated at high speed. When an apparatuswith a large mass is reciprocated at a high speed, a large power isrequired to accelerate and decelerate the apparatus, therefore the ratioof the power required for acceleration and deceleration to the powerneeded for reducing the material to be pressed is so large that muchpower is spent on driving the apparatus. When the material is reduced,the volume corresponding to the thinned portion must be displacedlongitudinally or laterally because the volumes of the material beforeand after reduction are substantially the same. If the dies are long,the material is constrained so that it is displaced longitudinally (thisphenomenon is called material flow), so that pressing becomes difficultespecially when the reduction is large.

[0042] When a material to be rolled is reduced conventionally in ahorizontal mill, the gap between the rolls of the horizontal mill is setso that the rolls are capable of gripping the material to be rolledconsidering the thickness of the material after forming, therefore thereduction in thickness allowed for a single pass is limited so that whena large reduction in the thickness is required, a plurality ofhorizontal mills have to be installed in series, or the material must bemoved backwards and forwards through a horizontal mill while thethickness is gradually reduced, according to the prior art. Anothersystem was also proposed in the unexamined Japanese patent publicationNo. 175011, 1990; eccentric portions are provided in rotating shafts,the motion of the eccentric portions is changed to an up/down movementusing rods, and a material to be pressed is reduced continuously bythese up/down movements.

[0043] The system with a plurality of horizontal mills arranged intandem (series) has the problems that the equipment is large and thecost is high. The system of passing a material to be pressed backwardsand forwards through a horizontal mill has the problems that theoperations are complicated and a long rolling time is required. Thesystem disclosed in the unexamined Japanese patent application No.175011, 1990 has the difficulty that large equipment must be used,because a fairly large rotating torque must be applied to the rotatingshafts to produce the required reducing force as the movement of theeccentric portions of the rotating shafts has to be changed to anup/down motion to produce the necessary reducing force.

[0044] 5. Conventionally, a roughing-down mill is used to press a slab.The slab to be pressed is as short as 5 to 12 m, and to obtain thespecified thickness, a plurality of roughing-down mills are provided, orthe slab is moved backwards and forwards as it is pressed in thereversing rolling method. Other systems also used practically include aflying press machine that transfers a slab while it is being pressed,and a start-stop reduction press machine which stops conveying thematerial as it is being pressed and transfers the material during a timewhen it is not being pressed.

[0045] Since long slabs arc produced by continuous casting equipment,there is a practical demand for a slab to be conveyed continuously to asubsequent press apparatus. When a slab is rough rolled in aroughing-down mill, there is a nip angle limitation (about 17°), so thereduction per rolling cannot be made so large. Because the slab iscontinuous, it cannot be rolled by reverse rolling, therefore to obtainthe preferred thickness, a plurality of roughing-down mills must beinstalled in series, or if a single mill is involved, the diameter ofthe work rolls must be made very large. There are difficulties, in termsof design and cost, in manufacturing such a roughing-down mill withlarge-diameter rolls, and large diameter rolls must be operated at a lowspeed when rolling a slab, so the rolls cannot be easily cooled, and thelife of the rolls becomes shorter. Because a flying press can provide alarge reduction in thickness and is capable of reducing a material whileit is being conveyed, the press can continuously transfer the materialbeing pressed to a downstream rolling mill. However, it has beendifficult to adjust the speed of the material to be pressed so that theflying press and the downstream rolling mill can operate simultaneouslyto reduce and roll the material. In addition, it has not been possibleto arrange a start-stop reduction press machine and a rolling mill intandem to reduce a slab continuously; with the start-stop reductionpress, the material being pressed is stopped during pressing, and istransferred when it is not being pressed.

[0046] Another system in practical use is the flying system in which thesliders that press down on a slab are moved up and down in synchronismwith the transfer speed of the slab.

[0047] In the start-stop system, the heavy slab is accelerated anddecelerated every cycle from standstill to the maximum speed Vmax, andaccordingly the capacity of the transfer facilities such as the pinchrolls and transfer tables must be large. Because of the discontinuousoperation, it is difficult to carry out further operations on adownstream press machine. The flying system requires a large capacityapparatus to produce the swinging motion, and to accelerate anddecelerate the heavy sliders according to the speed of the slab. Anotherproblem with this system is that this large capacity apparatus forproducing the swinging motion causes considerable vibrations in thepress machine.

[0048] Still another problem with this system is that if the speed ofthe slab deviates from that of the sliders, flaws may be produced in theslab or the equipment may be damaged.

[0049] Recently, a high-reduction press machine that can reduce a thickslab (material to be pressed) to nearly ⅓ of its original thickness in asingle reduction operation, has been developed. FIG. 8 shows an exampleof a reduction press machine used for hot pressing. With this reductionpress machine, dies 52 a, 52 b are disposed opposite each othervertically on opposite sides of the transfer line S, and aresimultaneously moved towards and away from a material 1 to be pressedthat travels on the transfer line S by the reciprocating apparatus 53 a,53 b incorporating eccentric axes, rods, and hydraulic cylinders, sothat material of a thickness of, for example, 250 mm can be reduced to90 mm by a single reducing operation.

[0050] However, the reduction of the aforementioned high-reduction pressmachine can be as large as 160 mm, that is, the reduction on one side isas large as 80 mm. According to the prior art, there is a smalldifference of thickness before and after pressing, so the transferlevels of the transfer devices of a press machine on the inlet andoutlet sides are substantially the same. With the above-mentionedhigh-reduction press machine, however, there is the problem that thematerial 1 to be pressed is bent if the transfer levels are identical.Another problem of the machine is that the transfer device isoverloaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0051] 1. The present invention has been accomplished under thecircumstances mentioned above, and the first object of the presentinvention is to provide a plate reduction press apparatus and methodsthat can efficiently reduce a material to be shaped in the direction ofthe thickness of the plate, can securely transfer the material to beshaped, can decrease the load imposed on the dies during reduction, andcan prevent bending of the material to be shaped to the left or right asa result of the reducing and forming operations.

[0052] To achieve the aforementioned first object of the presentinvention, in the plate reduction pressing method of the presentinvention, dies with convex forming surfaces protruding towards thetransfer line are moved towards the transfer line from above and belowthe material to be shaped, when viewed from the side of the transferline, in synchronism with the movement of the material to be shaped, insuch a manner that a portion of the forming surfaces of the material ismoved from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transfer lineand the material to be shaped is reduced in the direction of the platethickness.

[0053] The plate thickness reduction press apparatus of anotherembodiment of the present invention, is provided with die holdersarranged opposite each other above and below a transfer line in which amaterial to be shaped is moved horizontally, dies mounted on theabove-mentioned die holders and comprised of convex forming surfacesprotruding towards the transfer line when viewed from the side of thetransfer line, upstream eccentric shafts arranged for each die holder onthe opposite side from the transfer line and extending in the directionlateral to the transfer line, downstream eccentric shafts arranged foreach die holder on the opposite side from the transfer line in alignmentwith the aforementioned upstream eccentric shafts, in the downstreamdirection of the transfer line, and comprised of eccentric portions witha different phase angle from the phase angle of the eccentric portionsof the upstream eccentric shafts, upstream rods whose tips are connectedto portions of the die holders, close to the ends on the upstream sideof the transfer line through bearings and the other ends of which areconnected to the eccentric portions of the upstream eccentric shaftsthrough bearings, downstream rods whose tips are connected to portionsof the die holders, close to the ends on the downstream side of thetransfer line through bearings and the other ends of which are connectedto the eccentric portions of the downstream eccentric shafts throughbearings, and mechanisms for moving the dies backwards and forwards thatreciprocate the above-mentioned die holders relative to the direction ofthe transfer line.

[0054] According to the plate reduction press apparatus of anotherembodiment of the present invention, the mechanisms for moving the diesbackwards and forwards in the plate press apparatus are provided witharms one end of each of which is fixed to the die holder, and guidemembers which are installed near the die holders and guide the other endof each of the arms.

[0055] In the plate reduction press apparatus according to theinvention, the mechanisms for moving the dies backwards and forwards areprovided with actuators one end of each of which is connected to one ofthe die holders through a first bearing and the other end of eachthereof is connected to a predetermined fixing member through a secondbearing.

[0056] The plate reduction press apparatus of another embodiment of thepresent invention is composed of the mechanisms for moving the diesbackwards and forwards in the plate reduction press apparatus, comprisedof eccentric shafts for backwards and forwards movements, provided nearthe die holders and rods for backwards and forwards movements, one endof each of the aforementioned rods being connected to one of the (lieholders through a first bearing and the other end thereof beingconnected to one of the eccentric portions of the eccentric shafts forbackwards and forwards movements

[0057] In the plate reduction press apparatus of a still furtherembodiment of the invention, the mechanisms for moving the diesbackwards and forwards in the plate reduction press apparatus of thepresent invention are composed of levers one end of each of which isconnected to one of the die holders through a first bearing and theother end thereof is connected to a predetermined fixing member througha second bearing.

[0058] According to the plate reduction pressing method of the presentinvention, dies with convex forming surfaces protruding towards thetransfer line are moved towards the transfer line from above and belowthe material to be shaped in synchronism with the movement of thematerial to be shaped, and given a swinging motion such that theportions of the forming surfaces in contact with the material to beshaped move from the downstream side of the transfer line to theupstream side thereof, thereby the areas of the material being shaped,in contact with the forming surfaces, are made small to reduce thepressing load on the dies.

[0059] In any of the plate reduction press apparatus according to thepresent invention, the die holders on which the dies are mounted aregiven a swinging motion by the upstream eccentric shafts, downstreameccentric shafts, upstream rods and downstream rods in such a mannerthat the portions of the forming surfaces of the dies, in contact withthe material to be shaped, are shifted from the downstream side to theupstream side of the transfer line, while moving the dies towards thetransfer line, thereby the areas of the forming surfaces in contact withthe material to be shaped are made small to reduce the load applied tothe dies during pressing.

[0060] Also, when the forming surfaces of the dies are in contact withthe material to be shaped, the mechanisms for moving the dies backwardsand forwards move the die holders towards the downstream side of thetransfer line, and convey the material being reduced and formed withoutany material being displaced backwards, towards the downstream side ofthe transfer line.

[0061] To achieve the above-mentioned first object of the presentinvention, the plate reduction press apparatus according to oneembodiment of the invention is provided with dies arranged verticallyopposite each other on opposite sides of a transfer line in which amaterial to be shaped is transferred horizontally, and moving towardsand away from the transfer line in synchronism with each other, aplurality of upstream table rollers arranged on the upstream side of thedies on the transfer line in such a manner that the lower surface of thematerial to be shaped, which is to be inserted between the dies, can besupported substantially horizontally, a plurality of downstream up anddown table rollers arranged on the downstream side of the dies on thetransfer line in such a manner that the downstream up and down tablerollers can be raised and lowered and can support the lower surface ofthe material being shaped and fed out of the dies, and a plurality ofdownstream table rollers arranged on the downstream side of thedownstream up and down table rollers on the transfer line in such amanner that the lower surface of the material being shaped and fed outof the dies can be supported substantially horizontally at a heightsubstantially the same as the height of the aforementioned upstreamtable rollers.

[0062] The plate reduction press apparatus according to a furtherembodiment of the invention is provided with dies arranged verticallyopposite each other on opposite sides of a transfer line in which amaterial to be shaped is transferred horizontally, and moving towardsand away from the transfer line in synchronism with each other, aplurality of upstream up and down table rollers on the upstream side ofthe dies on the transfer line in such a manner that the upstream up anddown table rollers can be raised and lowered, and the lower surface ofthe material to be shaped, which is to be inserted between the dies, canbe supported, and a plurality of downstream table rollers arranged onthe downstream side of the dies on the transfer line in such a mannerthat the lower surface of the material being shaped and fed out of thedies can be supported.

[0063] The plate reduction press apparatus according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention is comprised of dies arrangedvertically opposite each other on opposite sides of a transfer line inwhich a material to be shaped is transferred horizontally, and movingtowards and away from the transfer line in synchronism with each other,a plurality of upstream up and down table rollers on the upstream sideof the dies on the transfer line in such a manner that the upstream upand down table rollers can be raised and lowered, and the lower surfaceof the material to be shaped, which is to be inserted between the dies,can be supported, and a plurality of downstream up and down tablerollers arranged on the downstream side of the dies in such a mannerthat the lower surface of the material being shaped and fed out of thedies can be supported.

[0064] According to the method of operating the plate reduction pressapparatus according to one embodiment of the invention, when a longmaterial to be shaped is inserted, reduced and formed in the directionof plate thickness between both dies, the vertical positions of thedownstream up and down table rollers near the dies are determined insuch a manner that the material being shaped and fed out of the dies issubstantially horizontal, and the vertical positions of the downstreamup and down table rollers on the side farther from the dies aredetermined in such a manner that the material being shaped graduallydescends towards the downstream table rollers.

[0065] In the method of operating the plate reduction press apparatusaccording to one embodiment, when a long material to be shaped isinserted, reduced and formed in the direction of the plate thicknessbetween both dies, the vertical positions of the upstream up and downtable rollers near the dies arc determined in such a manner that thematerial to be shaped, which is to be inserted between the dies, issubstantially horizontal.

[0066] According to a further embodiment of the present invention foroperating the plate reduction press apparatus, when a long material tobe shaped is inserted, reduced and formed in the direction of the platethickness between both dies, the vertical positions of the upstream upand down table rollers near the dies and the downstream up and downtable rollers are determined in such a manner that the material to beshaped, which is to be inserted between the dies, and the material beingshaped and fed out of the dies are substantially horizontal.

[0067] In the method according to a further embodiment of the presentinvention for operating the plate reduction press apparatus of theinvention, the positions of the upper surfaces of the downstream up anddown table rollers are determined to be identical to the positions ofthe upper surfaces of the upstream table rollers and the downstreamtable rollers, when no long material to be shaped is inserted, or beingreduced or formed in the direction of the plate thickness between bothdies.

[0068] When using the plate reduction press apparatus of the presentinvention according to the method of another embodiment of theinvention, the positions of the upper surfaces of the upstream up anddown table rollers are determined to be identical to the positions ofthe upper surfaces of the downstream table rollers, when no longmaterial to be shaped is inserted, or being reduced or formed in thedirection of the plate thickness between both dies.

[0069] In the method for operating the plate reduction press apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the present invention, when no longmaterial to be shaped is inserted, or being reduced or formed in thedirection of the plate thickness between both dies, the positions of theupper surfaces of the upstream up and down table rollers and thedownstream table rollers are determined to be identical to each other.

[0070] With the plate reduction press apparatus of one embodiment of thepresent invention, the vertical positions of the downstream up and downtable rollers located on the transfer line downstream of the dies areadjusted according to the amount of the reduction in the direction ofthe plate thickness of the material being shaped by the dies, and thelower surface of the material being shaped and fed out from the dies ismaintained in the most suitable state.

[0071] In the plate reduction press apparatus of another embodiment ofthe present invention, the vertical positions of the upstream up anddown table rollers located on the transfer line upstream of the dies areadjusted according to the amount of the reduction in the direction ofthe plate thickness of the material to be shaped, and the lower surfaceof the material to be inserted between the dies and shaped is maintainedin the most suitable state.

[0072] In the plate reduction press apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention, the vertical positions of theupstream up and down table rollers located on the transfer line upstreamof the dies and the downstream up and down table rollers located on thetransfer line downstream of the dies are adjusted according to theamount of the reduction in the direction of the plate thickness of thematerial being formed by the dies, and the lower surface of the materialbeing shaped and fed out from between the dies is maintained in the mostsuitable state.

[0073] When using the plate reduction press apparatus of the inventionaccording to the method of one embodiment, the vertical positions of thedownstream up and down table rollers on the portion of the transfer linenear to the press machine are determined in such a manner that thematerial being reduced, shaped and fed out from between the dies issubstantially horizontal, and the vertical positions of the downstreamup and down table rollers farther down the transfer line are determinedin such a manner that the material being shaped and fed out of theaforementioned downstream up and down table rollers gradually descendstowards the downstream table rollers and the portion of the materialbeing reduced and shaped is moved smoothly.

[0074] According to the method of one embodiment of the presentinvention for operating the plate reduction press apparatus of theinvention, the vertical positions of the upstream up and down tablerollers near the dies are determined in such a manner that a longmaterial to be shaped, which is to be inserted between the dies, issubstantially horizontal, when the long material to be shaped isinserted, reduced and formed in the direction of the plate thicknessbetween both dies, the portion of the material to be reduced and shapedis moved smoothly.

[0075] When the plate reduction press apparatus of the present inventionis operated according to the method of one embodiment of the invention,the vertical positions of the upstream up and down table rollers and thedownstream up and down table rollers are determined in such a mannerthat the material being reduced, shaped and fed out from between thedies is substantially horizontal, and the portion of the material to bereduced and shaped and the portion of the material being reduced andshaped are moved smoothly.

[0076] According to the method of the present invention for operatingthe high-reduction press apparatus of the invention, the verticalpositions of the downstream up and down table rollers are determined tocorrespond with the positions of the upstream table rollers and thedownstream table rollers, and material passed between the dies withoutbeing reduced and shaped is moved smoothly.

[0077] When the plate reduction press apparatus of the present inventionis operated by the method of a further embodiment, the positions of theupper surfaces of the upstream up and down table rollers are determinedto be identical to the positions of the upper surfaces of the downstreamtable rollers, and material passed between the dies without beingreduced and formed is moved smoothly.

[0078] In the method of the present invention for operating thehigh-reduction press apparatus according to one embodiment of theinvention, the vertical positions of the upstream up and down tablerollers and the downstream up and down table rollers are determined tobe the same as each other, and material passed between the dies withoutbeing reduced and shaped is moved smoothly.

[0079] Furthermore, according to the plate reduction pressing methodaccording to one embodiment of the present invention for achieving theaforementioned first object of the invention, a first reduction in platethickness is performed; in this sub-method the material to be shaped istransferred from the upstream side of the transfer line to thedownstream side of the transfer line, upstream dies with formingsurfaces facing the above-mentioned material to be shaped are movedtowards the material to be shaped as the upstream dies are moved in thedownstream direction of the transfer line and the upstream dies aremoved away from the material to be shaped as the upstream dies are movedin the upstream direction of the transfer line, in synchronism with eachother, and the aforementioned material to be shaped is reduced andshaped in the direction of the plate thickness sequentially, and thenthe second reduction in plate thickness is carried out; in thissub-method, downstream dies with forming surfaces facing theabove-mentioned material to be shaped are moved towards the materialbeing shaped in the opposite phase to the phase of the upstream dieswhile the downstream dies are moved in the downstream direction of thetransfer line from above and below a portion of the material, whosethickness has been reduced by the first plate thickness reductionsub-method, and the downstream dies are moved away from the materialbeing shaped as the downstream dies are moved in the upstream directionof the transfer line, in synchronism with each other, and the materialwhich has been shaped by the first plate reduction is further reducedand shaped in the direction of the plate thickness sequentially.

[0080] With the plate reduction press apparatus according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention, upstream sliders are arrangedvertically opposite each other on opposite sides of a transfer line; inwhich a material to be shaped is transferred, mechanisms for moving theupstream sliders move the above-mentioned upstream sliders towards thetransfer line and move the upstream sliders away from the transfer line,upstream dies are mounted on the upstream sliders in such a manner thatthe upstream dies can move along the direction of the transfer line, andare comprised of forming surfaces facing the transfer line, mechanismsfor moving the upstream dies move the above-mentioned upstream dies in areciprocating manner in the direction of the transfer line, downstreamsliders are located on the transfer line downstream of the upstreamsliders, opposite each other on opposite sides of the transfer line,mechanisms for moving the downstream sliders move the downstream sliderstowards the transfer line and move the downstream sliders away from thetransfer line, downstream dies are mounted on the downstream sliders insuch a manner that the downstream dies can move along the direction ofthe transfer line, and are comprised of forming surfaces facing thetransfer line, and mechanisms for moving the downstream dies move thedownstream dies in a reciprocating manner in the direction of thetransfer line.

[0081] The plate reduction press apparatus according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention is provided with, in addition to thecomponents of the plate reduction press apparatus of the invention,mechanisms for moving the upstream sliders comprised of upstream crankshafts arranged on the opposite side of the upstream sliders from thetransfer line, and upstream rods one end of each of which is connectedto an eccentric portion of one of the upstream crank shafts through afirst bearing and the other end of each of which is connected to one ofthe upstream sliders through a second bearing, and mechanisms for movingthe downstream slider comprised of downstream crank shafts arranged onthe opposite side of the downstream sliders from the transfer line, anddownstream rods one end of each of which is connected to an eccentricportion of one of the downstream crank shafts through a third bearingand the other end of each of which is connected to one of the downstreamsliders through a fourth bearing.

[0082] Furthermore, the plate reduction press apparatus in oneembodiment of the present invention is provided with, in addition to thecomponent devices of the plate reduction press apparatus of theinvention as described above, a synchronous drive mechanism that rotatesthe upstream crank shafts and the downstream crank shafts in synchronismin the same direction in such a manner that the eccentric portions ofboth of the upstream and downstream crank shafts maintain a phasedifference of 180°.

[0083] Moreover, the plate reduction press apparatus of a furtherembodiment of the present invention is comprised of, in addition to thecomponent devices of the plate reduction press apparatus of theinvention, upstream crank shafts and downstream crank shafts supportedby bearings in such a manner that both the above-mentioned crank shaftsare substantially parallel to the direction orthogonal to the transferline.

[0084] In the plate reduction pressing method according to oneembodiment of the present invention, an unreduced and unformed portionof the material to be shaped is reduced and formed in the direction ofits plate thickness by the upper and lower upstream dies, in the firstplate thickness reduction sub-method, and then the portion of thematerial to be shaped, that has been reduced and formed, is furtherreduced and formed in the direction of its plate thickness by the upperand lower downstream dies, in the second plate thickness reductionsub-method, thereby the material to be shaped is reduced and shapedefficiently in the direction of its plate thickness.

[0085] In addition, the first and second plate thickness reductionsub-methods are operated alternately on an unreduced and unformedportion and a partially reduced portion of the material to be shaped,respectively, in order to reduce the loads applied to the upstream anddownstream dies during reduction.

[0086] In any of the plate reduction press apparatus of the presentinvention, the mechanisms for moving the upstream sliders move theupstream dies towards the transfer line together with the upstreamsliders, and an unreduced and unformed portion of the material to beshaped is reduced in the direction of its plate thickness by the upperand lower upstream dies, and then the mechanisms for moving thedownstream sliders move the downstream sliders and downstream diestowards the transfer line, and the portion of the material to be shaped,already reduced by the upstream dies, is further reduced in thedirection of its plate thickness by the upper and lower downstream dies,thus the material to be shaped is reduced and formed efficiently in thedirection of its plate thickness.

[0087] In addition, the upstream and downstream dies are moved towardsand away from the transfer line, in the opposite phase to each other, bymeans of the mechanisms for moving the upstream and downstream sliders,respectively, so that the loads applied to the upstream and downstreamdies during reduction are made smaller.

[0088] According to the plate reduction press apparatus of oneembodiment of the present invention, as invented to achieve the firstobject of the invention, a pair of dies are arranged opposite each otheron opposite sides of a transfer line of a material to be shaped andmoved toward and away from each other in synchronism with each other,upstream side guides are arranged in the close vicinity of theaforementioned dies in the upstream direction of the transfer line insuch a manner that the upstream side guides are opposite each other inthe lateral direction of the material to be shaped on opposite sides ofthe transfer line, and comprised of a first pair of side guide unitsthat can move towards and away from the transfer line, and downstreamside guides arranged in the close vicinity of the above-mentioned diesin the downstream direction of the transfer line in such a manner thatthe downstream side guides are opposite each other in the lateraldirection of the material being shaped on opposite sides of the transferline, and comprised of a second pair of side guide units that can movetowards and away from the transfer line.

[0089] The plate reduction press apparatus of the present invention isprovided with a pair of dies arranged opposite each other on oppositesides of a transfer line of a material to be shaped and moved towardsand away from each other in synchronism with each other, upstream sideguides arranged in the close vicinity of the aforementioned dies in theupstream direction of the transfer line in such a manner that theupstream side guides are opposite each other in the lateral direction ofthe material to be shaped on opposite sides of the transfer line, andcomprised of a first pair of side units that can move towards and awayfrom the transfer line, upstream vertical rollers supported by thecorresponding upstream side guides in such a manner that the upstreamvertical rollers can contact the lateral edges of the material to beshaped, when the material passes between the above-mentioned upstreamside guides, downstream side guides arranged in the close vicinity ofthe aforementioned dies in the downstream direction of the transfer linein such a manner that the down stream side guides are opposite eachother in the lateral direction of the material being shaped on oppositesides of the transfer line, and comprised of a second pair of side guideunits that can move towards and away from the transfer line, anddownstream vertical rollers supported by the corresponding downstreamside guides in such a manner that the downstream vertical rollers cancontact the lateral edges of the material being shaped, when thematerial passes between the downstream side guides.

[0090] In any of the plate reduction press apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention, a material to be reduced and shapedis moved from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transferline, guided into the upper and lower dies by the left and right sideguide units of the upstream side guides, the material to be shaped,after being reduced and formed by the dies and fed out on the downstreamside of the transfer line, is prevented from being deflected to the leftor right, by the left and right side guide units of the downstream sideguides.

[0091] With the plate reduction press apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention, when the material to be shaped isguided into the dies by the left and right side guide units of theupstream side guides, the lateral edges of the material are guided bythe upstream vertical rollers to protect the lateral edges of thematerial to be shaped from rubbing against the side guide units, and thelateral edges of the material to be shaped are restrained by the leftand right side guide units of the downstream side guides to prevent thematerial to be shaped from being deflected to the left or right, andguided by the downstream vertical rollers to protect the lateral edgesof the material to be shaped from rubbing against the side guide units.

[0092] 2. The second object of the present invention is to provide aplate reduction press apparatus with (1) the capability of a flyingpress apparatus that can reduce a material to be pressed while it isbeing moved, (2) small number of component parts and a simpleconfiguration, (3) a reduced number of portions that slide under load,(4) the capability for operating under a heavy load at a high operatingrate, and (5) a simply constructed means of adjusting the positions ofthe dies and correcting the thickness of a material to be pressed.

[0093] The plate reduction press apparatus according to one embodimentof the present invention offers a plate reduction press apparatusprovided with upper and lower drive shafts arranged opposite each otherabove and below a material to be pressed, and made to rotate, upper andlower press frames one end of each of which engages with one of theaforementioned drive shafts in a freely slidable manner, and the otherends of which are connected together in a freely rotatable manner, ahorizontal guide device that supports the above-mentioned press framesat the point of connection in a manner that allows them to slide in thehorizontal direction, and upper and lower dies mounted at the ends ofthe upper and lower press frames, opposite the material to be pressed,in which the upper and lower drive shafts are constructed as a pair ofeccentric shafts that are located at both lateral ends and which have aphase difference relative to each other, and the upper and lower diesthat are opened and closed with a rolling action by rotating the driveshafts, and the material to be pressed is transferred as the material isbeing pressed.

[0094] According to the configuration of the present invention asdescribed above, when the drive shafts are rotated, the upper and lowerdies move in a circular path, while rolling laterally at the same time,and are opened and closed by the pair of eccentric shafts of which thephase angles are shifted relative to each other. Consequently, thematerial to be pressed can be conveyed while being pressed, because theupper and lower dies move in the direction of the line while they areclosing. In addition, because the upper and lower dies close with arolling action, the load during pressing can be reduced. The amount ofreduction is determined by the eccentricity of the eccentric shafts, sohigh-reduction pressing is possible without being limited by a nipangle, etc. Moreover, because the material to be pressed is conveyedwhile being reduced, the apparatus operates as a flying press.

[0095] In addition, only the eccentric shafts withstand loads duringpressing, and the horizontal guide device is acted on by only a rathersmall load that only cancels the moments applied to the press frames,and furthermore, the moments applied to the upper and lower press framescancel each other, so that the load imposed on the horizontal guidedevice is further reduced. Therefore, the construction can be simplifiedwith a small number of component parts, and with a small number ofportions that slide under load during pressing, and as a result, theapparatus can operate with high loads at a high operating frequency.

[0096] According to the plate reduction press apparatus according to afurther embodiment of the present invention, a driving device to rotateand drive the drive shafts is provided, and the rotational speed of thedriving device can be varied, and the rotational speed is determined insuch a manner that the speed of moving the dies during reducingsubstantially matches the speed of feeding the material to be pressed.

[0097] With this configuration, the speed of the dies in the linedirection can be made to be substantially equal to the speed of feedingthe material to be pressed (a slab), so the load on the driving devicethat rotates and drives the drive shafts can be reduced.

[0098] The plate reduction press apparatus according to a furtherembodiment is provided with a looper device that creates a slack portionin the material to be pressed on the downstream side and holds up thematerial. In this configuration, the looper device can absorb deviationsbetween the speed of the dies in the line direction and the speed offeeding the material to be pressed, so that the line speed can besynchronized with a finish rolling mill located further downstream.

[0099] The plate reduction press apparatus according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention provides a plate reduction pressapparatus configured with upper and lower crank shafts arranged oppositeeach other above and below a material to be pressed and made to rotate,upper and lower press frames one end of each of which engages with oneof the aforementioned crank shafts in a freely slidable manner, and theother ends of which are connected together in a freely rotatable manner,horizontal guide devices that support the above-mentioned press framesat the point of connection in a manner that allows them to movehorizontally, and upper and lower dies mounted at the ends of the upperand lower press frames, opposite the material to be pressed; in whichthe crank shafts rotate to open and close the upper and lower dies, sotransferring the material while pressing the material to be pressed, thematerial is transferred.

[0100] According to the above configuration based on the presentinvention, the upper and lower dies move in a circular path when thecrank shafts rotate, and open and close. Consequently, as the upper andlower dies move in the direction of the line while closing, the materialto be pressed can be conveyed while being reduced. The amount ofreduction is determined by the eccentricity of the crank shafts,therefore high-reduction pressing is possible without being limited by anip angle, etc. Also, the apparatus operates as a flying press becausethe material to be pressed is transferred while being reduced.

[0101] In addition, only the crank shafts withstand loads duringpressing, and because the horizontal guide devices are acted on by onlyrelatively small loads that are sufficient to only cancel the momentsacting on the press frames, and also because the moments applied to theupper and lower press frames cancel each other, the loads on thehorizontal guide devices become still smaller. As a result, theconstruction of the apparatus is made simple with few component parts,and with a small number of components that slide under load duringpressing, so that the apparatus can operate with large loads at a highoperating frequency.

[0102] With the plate reduction press apparatus according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention, a driving device for rotating anddriving the crank shafts is provided, and the rotational speed of thedriving device is variable and is determined in such a manner that thespeed of the dies in the line direction during pressing substantiallymatches the speed of feeding the material to be pressed.

[0103] With this configuration mentioned above, the speed of the dies inthe line direction can be made to be substantially the same as the speedof feeding the material to be pressed (a slab), so the load on thedriving device that rotates and drives the crank shafts can be reduced.

[0104] The plate reduction press apparatus according to anotherembodiment is provided with a looper device that creates a slack portionin the material to be pressed on the downstream side and holds up thematerial. Using this configuration, the looper device can absorbdifferences between the speed of the dies in the line direction and thespeed of feeding the material to be pressed, so that the speed of theline can be synchronized with that of a finish rolling mill locatedfurther downstream.

[0105] The plate reduction press apparatus according to anotherembodiment is provided with up and down height adjusting plates that aremaintained between the dies and the press frames, and the plates adjustthe heights of the dies. By replacing these height adjusting plates, theheights of the dies can be adjusted freely, so compared to aconventional screw mechanism, etc., the construction of the apparatuscan be made tougher, simpler, and more compact than a conventional one,consequently, the apparatus vibrates less and fails less often than aconventional machine, so the apparatus according to the presentinvention can be maintained more easily whilst the cost is reduced.

[0106] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a hotslab pressing method is provided in which the feeding speed of thematerial to be pressed is made variable, relative to the maximum speedof the dies in the line direction. According to a preferred embodimentof the present invention, the speed of feeding the material to bepressed is varied in such a manner that at the beginning of pressing,the speed is made greater than the aforementioned maximum speed, and ismade smaller at the intermediate and final stages.

[0107] The plate reduction press apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present invention is comprised of upper and lowereccentric drive shafts arranged opposite each other above and below amaterial to be pressed and made to rotate, upper and lower synchronouseccentric shafts that rotate around the axes of the above-mentionedeccentric drive shafts, upper and lower press frames one end of each ofwhich engages with one of the synchronous eccentric shafts in a freelyslidable manner, and the other ends of which are connected together in afreely rotatable manner, and upper and lower dies mounted at the ends ofthe upper and lower press frames, facing the material to be pressed; inwhich the upper and lower dies are opened and closed by rotating theupper and lower eccentric drive shafts, and when the material to bepressed is pressed by the dies, the synchronous eccentric shaftssynchronize the speed of the press frames in the direction of thetransfer line with the speed of the material to be pressed in thedirection of the transfer line.

[0108] With the configuration mentioned above according to the presentinvention, when the drive shafts are rotated, the upper and lowereccentric shafts rotate around fixed axes, and due to the rotation ofthe eccentric shafts, the upper and lower dies move in circular pathswhile opening and closing. As a result, the upper and lower dies canconvey the material to be pressed in the direction of the line whilereducing the material, by synchronizing the speed of the press frames inthe direction of the line with the speed of the material to be pressedby means of the synchronous eccentric shafts during pressing with thedies. In this way, the amount of the reduction is determined by theeccentricity of the eccentric shafts without any nip angle restriction,etc., so high-reduction pressing can be carried out.

[0109] In this apparatus, only the eccentric shafts (dual-eccentricshafts) that rotate around the axes of the fixed shafts withstand loadsduring pressing, and only rather small loads that merely cancel themoments acting on the press frames are applied to the connectionportions, in addition, because the moments acting on the upper and lowerpress frames cancel each other, the loads are further reduced.Therefore, there are few component parts, the construction is simple,there are only a small number of sliding locations which are loadedduring pressing, and the apparatus can operate with high loads at a highoperating frequency.

[0110] 3. The third object of the present invention is to offer a platereduction press apparatus and methods by means of which a slab istransferred while the plate thickness is being reduced with a highreduction ratio, and for which the construction of the apparatus israther simple and which can reduce the slab with little vibration, andfor which the required length of the apparatus in the line direction canbe reduced.

[0111] To achieve the aforementioned third object, one embodiment of thepresent invention presents a plate reduction press apparatus providedwith crank shafts arranged above and below a material to be pressed,sliders which engage with the above-mentioned crank shafts in a freelyslidable manner and are moved with an eccentric motion, dies mounted onthe sliders facing the material to be pressed, and a driving device fordriving and rotating the crank shafts, in which the aforementioned crankshafts are composed of eccentric shafts that engage with the sliders,and support shafts arranged on both sides of the eccentric shafts withshaft center lines offset from the shaft center lines of the eccentricshafts, and at least one of the support shafts is comprised of acounterweight with an eccentric center substantially in a direction at180°, to the direction of eccentricity of the eccentric shafts.

[0112] The crank shafts engage directly with the sliders, and when thecrank shafts rotate, the eccentric shafts are rotated eccentricallyabout the axes of-the support shafts, so the sliders move up and downand reduce the material to be pressed, while also moving backwards andforwards in the direction of the flow of material to be pressed. Thus,the sliders and the dies also move in the direction of the flow ofmaterial to be pressed during pressing, therefore the mechanisms forfeeding the material during pressing, shown in FIG. 8, are not required.Consequently, the apparatus operates as a flying press and has a smallnumber of component parts and a simple construction. In addition,because the counterweight provided on the support shafts is offset in adirection substantially 180° to the eccentricity of the eccentricshafts, the accelerations and decelerations acting on the sliders arecanceled and the vibration of the apparatus is reduced.

[0113] The plate reduction press apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present invention is comprised of upper and lowerpress frames one end of each of which engages with one of the crankshafts in a freely slidable manner and is rotated eccentrically, and theother ends of which are connected together in a freely rotatable manner,horizontal guide devices that restrain the press frames at the pointwhere they are connected together in a manner such that they are free tomove in the horizontal direction, dies mounted at the ends of theabove-mentioned press frames facing the material to be pressed, and adriving device for driving and rotating the aforementioned crank shafts,in which the crank shafts are provided with eccentric shafts engagedwith the above-mentioned ends of the press frames, and support shaftsarranged on both sides of the eccentric shafts with shaft center lineseccentric to the shaft center lines of the eccentric shafts, and atleast one of the support shafts is comprised of a counterweight with aneccentric center substantially in a direction at 180°, to the directionof eccentricity of the eccentric shafts.

[0114] In this configuration as mentioned above, the ends of the pressframes move in a circular path as the crank shafts rotate, so the diesconnected thereto move up and down and reduce the material to bepressed, while also moving backwards and forwards in the direction ofthe flow of the material to be pressed, consequently by selecting thedirection of rotation of the crank shafts, the dies can be made to movein the direction of the flow of the material to be pressed duringpressing, that is, a flying press operation can be achieved. The otherends of the upper and lower press frames are connected together in afreely rotatable manner, and are guided so that they can only move inthe horizontal direction, therefore the reaction moment imposed on oneend during pressing can be canceled by the one from the other end. Theapparatus according to this embodiment also does not require themechanisms for feeding the material during pressing, shown in FIG. 8.Consequently there arc few components and the construction is simple. Inaddition, the support shafts are provided with a counterweight offset ina direction substantially at 180° to the direction of eccentricity ofthe eccentric shafts, so that accelerations and decelerations producedat the two ends are canceled out and the vibration of the apparatus canbe reduced.

[0115] According to a further embodiment of the invention, theaforementioned counterweight has a mass sufficient to store rotationalenergy and also works as a flywheel.

[0116] As the counterweight rotates on a support shaft, it can storerotational energy, and it functions as a flywheel by means of asufficient mass provided in the counterweight.

[0117] According to a still further embodiment of the invention, theinertia force due to the eccentricity of the counterweight is determinedso as to substantially cancel out the inertia forces from the slidersand the inertia forces of the ends of the press frames.

[0118] Using the configuration described above, the vibration of thereduction press apparatus can be greatly reduced.

[0119] According to a still further embodiment of the invention which isaimed at achieving the third object mentioned above, the apparatus isprovided with dies arranged above and below a slab, and equipped withsliders for each of the dies to give the dies an up, down, backwards andforwards swinging motion and a driving device for driving the sliders,in which each of the sliders is composed of a main unit with a circularhole with its center line in the lateral direction of the slab, and acrank with a first axis that engages with the circular hole and a secondshaft with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first shaft withits center line offset from the axis of the first shaft, and the secondshaft is rotated and driven by the driving device.

[0120] When the second shaft rotates, the first shaft operates as acrank about the center line of the second shaft, and the first shaftengages with the circular hole and, moves the main unit up and down, andbackwards and forwards.

[0121] Thereby, the sliders press the dies, and can move the dies in aforward direction during pressing, so that the slab is transferredforwards (in the direction of the flow of the slab) while being reduced,therefore a continuous pressing operation is enabled. The invention thusprovides a large amount of reduction because the dies press the slabfrom both the upper and lower sides of the slab.

[0122] According to another embodiment of the invention, there are diesarranged above or below a slab, sliders for giving the dies an up anddown and backwards and forwards swinging motion, a driving device fordriving the sliders, and slab supporting members arranged opposite thedies above and below the slab, in which each of the sliders is comprisedof a main unit with a circular hole with its axis in the lateraldirection of the slab, a first shaft engaged with the circular hole, anda crank composed of a second shaft with a diameter smaller than thediameter of the first shaft and with its center line offset from theaxis of the first shaft, and the second shaft is rotated and driven bythe driving device.

[0123] The apparatus according to this embodiment is provided with dieseither above or below the slab, and slab supporting members are arrangedopposite the dies above or below the slab, to support the slab. Comparedto the invention of the prior embodiment, the amount of the reduction issmaller, and there is friction between the slab and the support memberswhen the slab being reduced moves forwards, but the construction issimpler, and the cost can be further reduced.

[0124] In the scope of the invention according to a still furtherembodiment, the circular holes and the cranks provided in theaforementioned sliders are arranged in pluralities in a row along thedirection of flow of the slab, and one crank accepts the force due tothe moment of the load, and the other cranks produce pressing forces inthis configuration.

[0125] By arranging pluralities of circular holes and cranks in a row inthe direction of flow of the slab (forwards), the dies can be maintainedparallel to each other. In addition, the pressing loads can bedistributed to several cranks, so the construction of each crank can bemade simpler.

[0126] In the invention according to yet another embodiment, thecircular holes and the cranks provided in the above-mentioned slidersare arranged in pluralities in a row, and one crank accepts the forcedue to the load moments, and the other cranks are configured to producepressing forces.

[0127] With this configuration, one crank bears the forces due to theunbalanced moments of the loads, and the other cranks generate onlypressing forces, so the overall efficiency of a press machine can beincreased.

[0128] With the invention according to still a further embodiment, theslab is conveyed by pinch rolls or tables, and when the sliders pressthe slab, it is conveyed at the same speed as the speed of the slidersin the forward direction.

[0129] When the sliders press the slab, the slab is transferred at thesame speed as the forward speed of the sliders, and at other times, theslab is conveyed at an appropriate speed, for example, a speedsynchronized with that of a subsequent machine. In this way, the slabcan be reduced most suitably and conveyed continuously.

[0130] In the invention according to another embodiment, the distance Lin which the slab moves in a cycle of the pressing period plus theperiod with a normal transfer speed, is not longer than the length L1 ofthe dies in the direction of flow of the slab.

[0131] Because the distance L slab 1 moves per cycle is no longer thanthe length L1 of the dies in the direction of flow of the slab, thereduction length for the next cycle is slightly superimposed on thelength reduced in the previous cycle. Thus, the reduction in thicknesscan be properly accomplished.

[0132] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, aimedat achieving the third object mentioned above the plate reduction pressapparatus is provided with a pair of dies arranged opposite each otherabove and below a slab, and a swinging device that gives each of thedies a swinging motion backwards and forwards, towards the slab, andeccentric shafts rotating in the above-mentioned circular holes, inwhich each of the aforementioned eccentric shafts is comprised of afirst shaft rotating in a circular hole with center line A on the sameaxis as the circular hole, and driving a second shaft with a center lineB offset from that of the first shaft by a difference e.

[0133] According to this configuration, the two eccentric shaftsrotating in a pair of circular holes in the sliders are located at aninclined angle or perpendicular to the direction of feeding the slab,therefore compared to the case in which the eccentric shafts areinstalled parallel to the line direction, the required length of theapparatus in the direction of the line can be reduced In particular,when the eccentric shafts are arranged at an inclined angle, thepressing forces acting on the two eccentric shafts can be sharedequally, so that the length of the apparatus in the direction of theline can be reduced at the same time as giving equal loading to eacheccentric shaft. When the eccentric shafts are installed perpendicularto the direction of feed of the slab, it is possible to load the innereccentric shafts more than the outer ones, and to make the outereccentric shafts smaller.

[0134] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a platereduction pressing method using a pair of dies arranged opposite eachother above and below a slab, and a swinging device that moves each ofthe dies towards the slab, in which the slab is synchronized with thefeeding speed of the dies when the slab is being pressed by the dies,and during the non-pressing period when the slab is separated from thedies, the slab is fed at a constant speed corresponding to apredetermined cycle speed.

[0135] Using this method mentioned above, the slab can be conveyedaccording to the upstream and downstream slab transfer speeds, so theentire line can be operated continuously.

[0136] 4. The fourth object of the present invention is to provide platereduction press apparatus and methods that can press a slab at a highspeed with a large reduction, using a small pressing force, smalldriving power, and a small configuration of the entire press facilities.

[0137] To achieve the fourth object given above, the invention disclosesa plate reduction press apparatus in which the longitudinal direction isdefined as the direction in which a material to be pressed moves afterbeing pressed, and N dies each of which has the same length in thelongitudinal direction are arranged with an interval of NL between eachdie, and press the material.

[0138] Instead of using dies with a length of NL in the longitudinaldirection, N dies each with a length L are arranged in tandem, and theinterval between each of the dies is made to be NL. After each of thedies has finished pressing a material to be pressed, the material ismoved longitudinally by a length NL. In this way, the material to bepressed can be reduced continually in lengths equal to the length NL.When a press machine is reciprocated at a high speed, inertia forces arecreated, and the magnitude of these forces depends on the GD2 of thecomponent members that are being reciprocated. The GD2 value of areciprocating body is greater than the sum of the GD2 values of eachsegment if the body is divided into N segments. Accordingly, theapparatus can be operated at a higher speed by dividing the dies intosegments, because the total inertia force is smaller. In addition, thedriving power is reduced when the dies are divided.

[0139] With the invention according to another embodiment, the lateraldirection is defined as the direction orthogonal to the aforementionedlongitudinal direction, and the longitudinal length of the dies is lessthan the length of the dies in the lateral direction.

[0140] The volumes of a material to be pressed, before and afterpressing, are substantially equal to each other, therefore the volume ofa reduced portion is spread out both longitudinally and laterally.However, if dies are long in the longitudinal direction, the materialcannot be displaced easily in the longitudinal direction, so pressingwith a large reduction becomes difficult, however because the length ofthe dies in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the lengththereof in the lateral direction, the material can also be displacedfairly easily in the longitudinal direction, so that pressing with alarge reduction can be achieved, and also the driving power of the platereduction press apparatus is reduced.

[0141] In the invention according to a still further embodiment, the Ndies press a material to be pressed at the same time.

[0142] As N dies press simultaneously, the pressing time can be madeshort and high-speed pressing can be achieved.

[0143] With the invention according another embodiment, at least one ofthe dies presses at a different time from the time the other dies press.

[0144] The power for driving a plurality of dies can be reduced byseparating the dies into several or a couple of groups anddifferentiating the pressing times.

[0145] According to the plate reduction pressing method according to oneembodiment for achieving the aforementioned fourth object of the presentinvention, the number of press machines pressing a material to bepressed with a press length L in the direction of the flow of thematerial to be pressed is defined as K, the press machines are arrangedwith K=1 on the upstream side of the pressing line, and with Kincreasing sequentially to K=N on the downstream side when N pressmachines are arranged in tandem, the material to be pressed is pressedin sequence from K=N to K=1, then after the material to be pressed isfed by a length NL, that is, the total of the pressing lengths of allthe press machines, the pressing sequence from K=N to K=1 is repeatedThe pressing force of each press machine is reduced by shortening thelength L of the material to be pressed by each press machine from K=1 toK=N, so that press facilities are made smaller.

[0146] According to a still further embodiment of the invention, thenumber of press machines pressing a material to be pressed with a presslength L in the direction of the flow of the material to be pressed isdefined as K, the press machines are arranged with K=1 on the upstreamside of the pressing line, and with K increasing sequentially to K=N onthe downstream side when N press machines are arranged in a tandemconfiguration, each press machine reduces the material by Δt, pressmachine K reduces the material by Δt from its thickness after beingpressed by press machine K=1, and the material is pressed by repeatedlyfeeding the material by one press length L after pressing the materialin sequence from press machine K=1 to press machine K=N.

[0147] Each press machine, K=1 to K=N, presses the same portion of amaterial to be pressed in turn, by an amount At each, that is, by atotal of NΔt, therefore a large amount of reduction can be obtained intotal, although each press machine only exerts a small pressing force.Accordingly, the capacity of each press machine can be small, and thepressing facilities are reduced in size.

[0148] 5. The fifth object of the present invention is to provide aplate reduction press apparatus and methods with which a reductionoperation by a reduction press machine and a rolling operation by adownstream rolling mill can be carried out at the same time, thecapacities of the device for transferring the material to be pressed andthe device to provide a swinging motion during reduction are small, theapparatus can be easily operated in series with downstream equipment,and even if the moving speed of the dies becomes different from themoving speed of the conveyor device during a pressing operation, theequipment will not be damaged, the material being pressed will not bebent, nor will the conveyor device be overloaded.

[0149] To achieve the fifth object described above, the invention isprovided with speed adjusting rolls arranged between a reduction pressmachine and a rolling mill with spaces provided to deflect the materialto be pressed, metering instruments arranged near the aforementionedspeed adjusting rolls or in the vicinity thereof, to measure the lengthof the material to be pressed which has passed, and a control apparatusfor controlling the operations of the above-mentioned reduction pressmachine and adjusting both speed adjusting rolls according to themeasurement of the length metering instrument.

[0150] The control apparatus controls the operations of both the speedadjusting rolls and the press machine so that the material to be pressedis deflected between the press machine and the rolling mill to absorbany speed difference between the press machine and the rolling mill whenthe material is passing between them, length metering instruments areprovided at both ends of the deflection between the press machine andthe rolling mill to determine the difference between lengths passed, andthe difference between the lengths passed is absorbed by the deflectionand maintained in a predetermined range. Thereby, the press machine canpress the material simultaneously with the operation of the rollingmill. The press machine can be either a flying press machine or astart-stop press machine, as far as simultaneous operation is concerned.

[0151] According to another embodiment of the invention, theaforementioned control apparatus takes the difference in the measuredlengths of material which has passed the two length metering instrumentsover a period of a multiple of pressing cycles of the press machine,adjusts the number of pressing cycles of the press machine or thetransfer speed of the speed adjusting rolls, or a combination thereof,and controls the pressing operations in such a manner that thedifference in the lengths passed is brought to 0.

[0152] The difference in the lengths of material passed over a period ofa multiple of pressing cycles of the press machine is absorbed by thedeflection, while the control apparatus makes an adjustment byincreasing or decreasing the number of pressing cycles per unit time ofthe press machine, or increases or decreases the transfer speed of eachspeed adjusting roll, or a combination of both, in order to bring thedifference in the lengths passed close to 0.

[0153] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a deflectionmetering instrument is provided to measure the deflection of thematerial to be pressed, between the above-mentioned speed adjustingrolls, and the aforementioned control apparatus controls the pressingoperations according to measurements thereof in such a manner that thedeflections remain within a predetermined range.

[0154] Using the configuration described above, the deflection is keptwithin a predetermined range, so the press machine and the rolling millare protected from excessive forces that might otherwise be applied ifthe deflection became too small, and also the elongation of the materialbeing pressed at a high temperature due to an excessive deflection, canbe prevented from occurring.

[0155] The invention according to a further embodiment provides aconveyor apparatus for the material being pressed that can be raised andlowered and is arranged between the aforementioned speed adjustingrolls, in which the material to be pressed is conveyed substantially atthe same level as the transfer level of the speed adjusting rolls, whenthe leading end or trailing end of the material to be pressed passes theconveyor apparatus.

[0156] At the section where the material to be pressed is given adeflection, the conveyor apparatus is provided that can be raised andlowered and is equipped with rolls for conveying the material beingpressed, in which the rolls are lowered when a deflection has beenformed, and when the leading end or trailing end of the material to bepressed passes the conveyor apparatus, the level of the conveyor rollsis made substantially the same as the transfer level of the speedadjusting rolls. In this way, the leading end or trailing end of thematerial to be pressed or being pressed can pass smoothly across thesection used for the deflection.

[0157] The invention according to a still further embodiment is aimed atachieving the fifth object described above in the pressing method of acrank type press machine that presses a material to be transferred andpressed using upper and lower dies, in which the dies are moved at thesame speed as the speed of the material to be pressed during thepressing period, and the speed of feeding the material to be pressed isadjusted during the period when there is no pressing taking place insuch a manner that during one cycle, the material to be pressed is movedby a predetermined distance L.

[0158] The material to be transferred and pressed is pressed by diesfrom above and below the material, and during pressing, the material istransferred at the same speed as that of the dies, and when the materialis not being pressed, the speed of the material is adjusted to move thematerial by a distance L for each cycle, so that the material to bepressed can be transferred at the same speed during each cycle. Inaddition, the variations in the transfer speed during a cycle are muchless than those of a start-stop apparatus, and the vibration of theequipment is much less than that of a slider system.

[0159] The invention of another embodiment is provided with diesarranged above and below a material to be pressed, crank devices forpressing each of the dies, and transfer devices for transferring thematerial to be pressed, in which the transfer devices move the materialto be pressed at the same speed as the dies when the crank devices arepressing the material to be pressed with the dies, and when the materialto be pressed is not being pressed, the transfer devices adjust thespeed of feeding the material to be pressed and move the material by apredetermined distance L during one cycle of the pressing operation, andthe above-mentioned distance L is not greater than the length L0 whichis the reduction length of the dies in the direction of flow of thematerial to be pressed.

[0160] The upper crank device presses the material to be pressed whenthe die is near its lowest point of travel, and the lower crank devicepresses the same when the die is in the vicinity of the highest point oftravel. As long as the dies are pressing the material to be pressed, thetransfer devices transfer the material to be pressed and being pressedat the same speed as that of the dies. The distance L in which thetransfer devices move the material to be pressed during one cycle of thecrank devices is less than the length L0 in which the dies press thematerial in the direction of transfer, so the material to be pressed ispressed sequentially by one length at a time. In this mode of operation,variations in the transfer speed of the material to be pressed arelimited to a reasonable range, therefore large-capacity transfer devicesare not required. Furthermore, with this configuration it is notnecessary to give heavy sliders a swinging motion to match the speed ofthe material to be pressed, therefore, no high-capacity device isrequired for the swinging motion. In addition, as the material to bepressed is transferred substantially continuously, the apparatus can beintegrated easily with a downstream rolling mill.

[0161] According to a still further embodiment of the invention, in thepressing method of a crank type press machine that presses a material tobe pressed and transferred using dies on both sides in the lateraldirection of the transfer line, during the pressing period, the materialto be pressed is moved at the same speed as the speed of the dies, andduring the period when it is not being pressed, the speed of feeding thematerial to be pressed is adjusted in such a manner that during onecycle the material to be pressed is moved by a predetermined distance L.

[0162] The material to be pressed and transferred is pressed by the diesfrom both sides in the lateral direction, and during pressing, thematerial to be pressed is transferred at the same speed as that of thedies, and when the press machine is not pressing, the speed of thematerial to be pressed is adjusted to move the material by a distance Lper cycle, so that the material to be pressed can be transferred at thesame speed during each cycle. In addition, the variations in thetransfer speed during a cycle are much less than those of a start-stopsystem, and the vibration is also much less than that of a slidersystem.

[0163] The invention of one embodiment is configured with dies arrangedon both sides in the lateral direction of a material to be pressed,crank devices that press each of the dies in the lateral direction, andtransfer devices that transfer the material to be pressed, in which thetransfer devices move the material to be pressed at the same speed asthe speed of the dies when the crank devices are pressing the materialto be pressed in the lateral direction through the dies, and when thematerial to be pressed is not being pressed, the speed of feeding thematerial to be pressed is adjusted, and the material to be pressed ismoved by a predetermined distance L in one cycle of a pressingoperation, and the above-mentioned distance L is not greater than thelength L0 which is the reduction length of the dies in the direction offlow of the material to be pressed.

[0164] The invention of a further embodiment is a modification of theinvention of a prior embodiment using the apparatus of a priorembodiment for lateral pressing; the crank devices on both sides in thelateral direction of the material to be pressed, press the material inthe lateral direction, using the dies, when they are near the point oftravel closest to the material. While the dies press the material to bepressed, the transfer devices transfer the material at the same speed asthat of the dies. Because the distance La that the transfer devices movethe material to be pressed in one cycle of the crank devices is lessthan the pressing length La0 of the dies in the direction of flow of thematerial, the material to be pressed is pressed sequentially by a lengthLa during each cycle. These operations keep the variations in thetransfer speed of the material to be pressed in the limits of areasonable range, so that no large-capacity transfer devices arerequired. In addition, because the configuration is such that heavysliders do not have to be given a swinging motion corresponding to thespeed of the material to be pressed, no large-capacity swinging deviceis needed. Also, as the material to be pressed is transferredessentially continuously, the material can be easily passed on to adownstream rolling machine.

[0165] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a looperthat forms a loop in the material to be pressed and adjusts the lengththereof is provided downstream of the transfer devices specified above.

[0166] The transfer speed of the material to be pressed varies duringone cycle of the crank devices. Consequently, the looper is provided toenable the material to be smoothly passed on to a subsequent rollingmill etc.

[0167] To achieve the fifth object described above, the invention of afurther embodiment relates to the pressing method of a crank type pressmachine that presses a material to be transferred with pinch rolls andpressed with upper and lower dies; during the pressing period, the pinchrolls rotate in such a manner that the peripheral speed of the pinchrolls is made equal to the combination of the horizontal speed of thedies and the elongation speed of the material to be pressed, added orsubtracted, and transfer the material to be pressed, and when the pressmachine is not pressing, the speed of feeding the material to be pressedis adjusted in such a manner that during one cycle, the material to bepressed is moved by a predetermined distance L, and the pressure of thepinch rolls during the pressing period is made smaller than the pressurethereof during the non-pressing period.

[0168] The material to be pressed and transferred is pressed by the diesfrom above and below the material, and during the pressing period, thepinch rolls are rotated at the peripheral speed equal to the sum of thehorizontal speed of the dies plus or minus the elongation speed of thematerial to be pressed, and transfer the material to be pressed, andwhen the apparatus is not pressing, the speed of the pinch rolls isadjusted to give a moving distance of L per cycle, so the material to bepressed can be transferred at an equal speed during each cycle. Inaddition, because the pressure of the pinch rolls is made smaller duringpressing than during the non-pressing period, even if there is adeviation between the sum of the speeds and the transfer speed of thepinch rolls, flaws can be prevented from being produced in the materialto be pressed. Furthermore, variations in the transfer speed during acycle are significantly smaller than those of a start-stop system, andthe vibration is much less than that of a slider system.

[0169] The plate reduction press apparatus of another embodiment isprovided with dies arranged above and below a material to be pressed,crank devices that press each of the dies, and pinch rolls that transferthe material to be pressed, in which the pinch rolls rotate in such amanner that the peripheral speed of the pinch rolls is made equal to acombination of the horizontal speed of the dies plus or minus theelongation speed of the material to be pressed, and transfer thematerial to be pressed when the crank devices are pressing the materialto be pressed through the dies, and when the press machine is notpressing, the speed of feeding the material to be pressed is adjusted insuch a manner that during one cycle, the material to be pressed is movedby a predetermined distance L and the distance L is not greater than thereduction length L0 of the dies in the direction of flow of the materialto be pressed, and the pressure of the pinch rolls is made smallerduring pressing with the dies than the pressure during the non-pressingperiod.

[0170] The upper crank devices press the material to be pressed usingthe dies, near the lowest point of travel, and the lower crank devicespress the material with the dies near to the uppermost point of travel.While the dies are pressing the material to be pressed, the pinch rollsrotate at the same peripheral speed as the combined speed of the speedof the dies plus or minus the elongation speed of the material to bepressed, so that the material to be pressed is transferred. Because thedistance L by which the pinch rolls transfer the material to be pressedduring one cycle of the crank devices is less than the pressing lengthL0 of the dies in the direction of flow, the material to be pressed ispressed sequentially in steps each of length L. In addition, because thepressure of the pinch rolls is made smaller during pressing than thepressure during the non-pressing period, the material is protected fromthe occurrence of flaws even if there is a deviation between thecombination speed and the transfer speed of the pinch rolls. Variationsin the transfer speed of the material to be pressed are kept withinreasonable limits during these operations, so no large-capacity transferapparatus is required. Also, the configuration does not require heavysliders to be given a swinging motion in synchronism with the speed ofthe material to be pressed, therefore no large-capacity swingingapparatus is needed. Because the material to be pressed is transferredessentially continuously, the press apparatus can easily be used intandem with a downstream rolling mill.

[0171] According to the invention of another embodiment, the pressure onthe above-mentioned pinch rolls is made smaller for a predetermined timet before or after the press machine begins to press.

[0172] By reducing the pressure on the pinch rolls at a predeterminedtime t before the press machine begins to press, the pinching force ofthe pinching rolls on the material to be pressed decreases, thereforethe dies can grip the material to be pressed more firmly. The time t isthe time required for gripping. When the pressure of the pinch rolls ismade smaller at a predetermined time t after the beginning of pressing,it is intended to make sure the dies are capable of gripping thematerial to be pressed more firmly.

[0173] In the invention of a further embodiment, the pressure of theabove-mentioned pinch rolls is made smaller when the pressing loadbecomes more than a predetermined value.

[0174] The pinch rolls press the material to be pressed with a highpressure until the pressing load of the press machine becomes more thana predetermined value, to securely feed the material to be pressed intothe press machine, and thereafter the pressure is reduced.

[0175] The invention of a still further embodiment, aimed at achievingthe fifth object mentioned above is comprised of- inlet transfer devicesthat are arranged on the upstream side of a press machine, to transfer amaterial to be pressed, and can be raised and lowered, and outlettransfer devices that are arranged on the downstream side of the pressmachine, and transfer the material being pressed, and can be raised andlowered, in which the aforementioned inlet transfer devices are adjustedto give a height of transfer according to information which has beeninput concerning the thickness of the material to be pressed, in such amanner that the center line of the thickness of the material to bepressed is the same as the center line of the press machine, and theabove-mentioned outlet transfer devices are adjusted for a height oftransferring according to information about the thickness of thematerial after being pressed, in such a manner that the center line ofthe thickness of the material is the same as the center line of thepress machine.

[0176] With a press machine in which a material to be pressed istransferred and pressed by dies from above and below the material, thepress is designed so that a line midway between the dies is at apredetermined height, and the line passing through this height is calledthe press center line. The thickness of a material to be pressed hasbeen measured during a process on the upstream side of the transferline, when the material is delivered to the press machine. The height oftransfer from the inlet transfer devices is determined so that thecenter of the thickness of the material coincides with the press centerline. In addition, the thickness of the material after being pressed bythe press machine is known from the design value of the press or bymeasurement, so the height of transfer of the outlet transfer devices isdetermined so that the center of the thickness of the material afterbeing pressed matches the press center line. Consequently, the materialbeing pressed is not bent after pressing, and also the outlet transferdevices will not be damaged.

[0177] In another embodiment of the invention, inlet transfer devicesare provided that are arranged on the upstream side of a press machinefor pressing a material to be pressed between upper and lower dies, thattransfer the material to be pressed, and can be raised and lowered, andoutlet transfer devices that are arranged on the downstream side of theaforementioned press machine, transfer the material being pressed, andcan be raised and lowered, in which when the material to be pressed ispassed through the press machine without being pressed with the upperand lower dies open, the transfer heights of the above-mentioned inlettransfer devices and the aforementioned outlet transfer devices aredetermined to be identical to each other and higher than the uppersurface of the opened lower die.

[0178] In practice, a material to be pressed must sometimes be passedthrough a press machine without pressing, or a material which has beenpressed unsuccessfully must be transferred in the reverse direction. Insuch cases, the upper and lower dies are opened, the transfer heights ofthe inlet transfer devices and the outlet transfer devices are madeidentical to each other and higher than the upper surface of the openedlower die, then the material to be pressed or which has been pressed canbe passed either forwards or backwards.

[0179] According to a still further embodiment of the invention, thetransfer method concerns the transfer devices that are arranged on theupstream and downstream sides of a press machine and can adjust thetransfer height of a material to be pressed, in which both transferdevices can transfer the material to be pressed or after being pressedwhile the transfer devices maintain the height of the center of thethickness of the material to be pressed, unchanged during pressing.

[0180] The transfer devices arranged on the upstream and downstreamsides of the press machine do not cause bending or otherwise adverselyaffect the material to be pressed and avoid unnecessary loads beingimposed on the transfer devices, by adjusting the height of the centerof the thickness of the material being pressed so that the height of thecenter of the thickness of the material is kept at the same level duringtransfer and pressing

[0181] According to another embodiment of the invention, the transfermethod concerns the transfer devices that are arranged on the upstreamand downstream sides of a press machine and can adjust the transferheight of a material to be pressed, in which when the press dies areopened vertically in such a manner that the material to be pressed doesnot contact the dies when the material to be pressed is passed throughthe press machine, both transfer devices transfer the material to bepressed at the same height.

[0182] In practice, a material to be pressed must sometimes be passedthrough a press machine without pressing, or a material which has beenpressed unsuccessfully must be transferred in the reverse direction. Atthis time, the press dies are opened upwards and downwards so that theydo not touch the material to be pressed, and the material to be pressedis transferred with both transfer devices maintained at the same height.

[0183] The other objects and advantages of the present invention will berevealed as follows by referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0184]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of a rolling mill usedfor hot rolling.

[0185]FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of reduction formingin the direction of plate thickness of a material to be shaped usingdies.

[0186]FIG. 3 is a conceptual view showing an example of a flying sizingpress apparatus.

[0187]FIG. 4 is a structural view of a conventional high-reduction pressmachine.

[0188]FIG. 5 is a view showing a conventional flying reduction pressmachine.

[0189]FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the configuration of areduction press machine using conventional long dies.

[0190] FIGS. 7(A), 7(B), and 7(C) are views showing the operation of theapparatus shown in FIG. 6.

[0191]FIG. 8 shows the method of reducing thickness used during hotpressing.

[0192]FIG. 9 is a general view seen from the side of the transfer line,of the first embodiment of the plate reduction press apparatus accordingto the present invention.

[0193]FIG. 10 is a conceptual view showing the displacement of the diesshown in FIG. 9 with respect to the transfer line, and the swingingmotion of the dies.

[0194]FIG. 11 is a conceptual view showing the displacement of the diesshown in FIG. 9 with respect to the transfer line, and the swingingmotion of the dies.

[0195]FIG. 12 is a conceptual view showing the displacement of the diesshown in FIG. 9 with respect to the transfer line, and swinging motionof the dies.

[0196]FIG. 13 is a conceptual view showing the displacement of the diesshown in FIG. 9 with respect to the transfer line, and the swingingmotion of the dies.

[0197]FIG. 14 is a general view seen from the side of the transfer line,of the second embodiment of the plate reduction press apparatusaccording to the present invention.

[0198]FIG. 15 is a general view seen from the side of the transfer line,of the third embodiment of the plate reduction press apparatus accordingto the present invention.

[0199]FIG. 16 is a general view seen from the side of the transfer line,of the fourth embodiment of the plate reduction press apparatusaccording to the present invention.

[0200]FIG. 17 is a side view showing the fifth embodiment of the platereduction press apparatus according to the present invention.

[0201]FIG. 18 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 17 showing thelocation of the up/down table rollers when the material to be shaped isnot being reduced or formed.

[0202]FIG. 19 is a side view showing the sixth embodiment of the platereduction press apparatus according to the present invention.

[0203]FIG. 20 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 19 showing thelocation of the up/down table rollers when the material to be shaped isnot being reduced or formed.

[0204]FIG. 21 is a conceptual view seen from the side of the transferline of the seventh embodiment of the plate reduction press apparatusaccording to the present invention, when the upstream dies are in themost separated position from the transfer line and the downstream diesare in the closest position to the transfer line.

[0205]FIG. 22 is a conceptual view seen from the side of the transferline of the seventh embodiment of the plate reduction press apparatusaccording to the present invention, when the upstream dies are movingtowards the transfer line and the downstream dies arc moving away fromthe transfer line.

[0206]FIG. 23 is a conceptual view seen from the side of the transferline of the seventh embodiment of the plate reduction press apparatusaccording to the present invention, when the upstream dies are in theclosest position to the transfer line and the downstream dies are in themost separated position from the transfer line.

[0207]FIG. 24 is a conceptual view seen from the side of the transferline of the seventh embodiment of the plate reduction press apparatusaccording to the present invention, when the upstream dies are movingaway from the transfer line and the downstream dies are moving towardsthe transfer line.

[0208]FIG. 25 is a conceptual view showing the mechanisms for moving thesliders shown in FIGS. 21 through 24, in a sectional view in thelongitudinal direction of the transfer line.

[0209]FIG. 26 is a side view showing the eighth embodiment of the platereduction press apparatus according to the present invention.

[0210]FIG. 27 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 26.

[0211]FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the cylinder mounting portion ofthe side guide shown in FIG. 26.

[0212]FIG. 29 is a sectional view of the vertical roller support portionof the side guides shown in FIG. 26.

[0213]FIG. 30 shows the configuration of the press equipment providedwith the plate reduction press apparatus according to the ninthembodiment of the invention.

[0214]FIG. 31 is a side view of the plate reduction press apparatusshown in FIG. 30.

[0215]FIG. 32 is a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 31.

[0216]FIG. 33 is a schematic view showing the paths in which the diesmove.

[0217]FIG. 34 is a view showing the movement of the dies in the up anddown direction relative to the angular position θ of the drive shafts.

[0218]FIG. 35 shows the configuration of a rolling facility providedwith the plate reduction press apparatus according to the tenthembodiment of the present invention.

[0219]FIG. 36 is a side view of the plate reduction press apparatusshown in FIG. 35.

[0220]FIG. 37 is a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 36.

[0221] FIGS. 38(A) and 38(B) are schematic views showing the paths inwhich the dies move.

[0222]FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the plate reduction pressing methodaccording to the present invention.

[0223]FIG. 40 shows the configuration of a rolling facility providedwith the plate reduction press apparatus according to the eleventhembodiment of the present invention.

[0224]FIG. 41 is a side view of the plate reduction press apparatusshown in FIG. 40.

[0225]FIG. 42 is a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 41.

[0226] FIGS. 43(A) and 43(B) are schematic views showing the paths inwhich the dies move.

[0227]FIG. 44 is a view showing the movement of the dies in the up anddown direction relative to the angular position θ of the synchronouseccentric shafts

[0228]FIG. 45 shows the configuration of the twelfth embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0229]FIG. 46 is a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 45.

[0230]FIG. 47 shows one cycle of the operation of a slider.

[0231]FIG. 48 shows one cycle of the operation of a slider and thematerial to be pressed.

[0232]FIG. 49 shows the configuration of the thirteenth embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0233]FIG. 50 is a sectional view along the line Y-Y in FIG. 49.

[0234] FIGS. 51(A) and 51(B) are schematic views showing the paths inwhich the dies move.

[0235]FIG. 52 is a view showing the configuration of the fourteenthembodiment of the present invention.

[0236]FIG. 53 is a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 52.

[0237]FIG. 54 shows a practical construction of a slider.

[0238]FIG. 55 shows one cycle of the operation of a slider.

[0239]FIG. 56 shows the moving speed of a slab during one cycle.

[0240]FIG. 57 shows one cycle of the operation of a slider and a slab.

[0241]FIG. 58 shows the configuration of the fifteenth example of thepresent invention.

[0242]FIG. 59 is a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 58.

[0243]FIG. 60 is a sectional view along the line Y-Y in FIG. 58.

[0244]FIG. 61 shows the construction of the sixteenth embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0245]FIG. 62 is a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 61.

[0246]FIG. 63 shows the configuration of the seventeenth embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0247]FIG. 64 shows the configuration of the eighteenth embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0248]FIG. 65 shows one cycle of operation of a slider.

[0249]FIG. 66 shows the moving speed of a slab during one cycle.

[0250]FIG. 67 shows the configuration of the nineteenth embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0251] FIGS. 68(A), 68(B) and 68(C) show the operation of the nineteenthembodiment, for the case in which each die presses at the same time.

[0252] FIGS. 69(A), 68(B) and 69(C) show the operation of the nineteenthembodiment, for the case in which each die presses in sequence.

[0253]FIG. 70 shows the configuration of the twentieth embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0254] FIGS. 71(A), 71(B) and 71(C) show the operation of the twentiethembodiment, for the case in which all the dies press simultaneously.

[0255]FIG. 72 is a side view showing the twenty-first embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0256] FIGS. 73(A) and 73(B) are views describing the operation of thetwenty-first embodiment.

[0257] FIGS. 74(A) and 74(B) describe the operation of the twenty-secondembodiment, when the tip of the material to be pressed has been moved todies 1201 and dies 1202.

[0258] FIGS. 75(A) and 75(B) describe the operations of thetwenty-second embodiment, when the tip of the material to be pressed hasbeen moved to dies 1203 and dies 1204.

[0259] FIGS. 76(A), 76(B), 76(C) and 76(D) describe the operation of thetwenty-second embodiment, when the tip of the material to be pressed haspassed the dies 1204.

[0260]FIG. 77 shows the configuration of the twenty-third embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0261] FIGS. 78(A) and 78(B) show the speed of the material to bepressed in the twenty-third embodiment; (A) the transfer speed of thematerial to be pressed at the outlet of the flying press machine, and(B) the transfer speed at the inlet of the rolling mill.

[0262]FIG. 79 shows the configuration of the twenty-fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0263] FIGS. 80(A) and 80(B) show the speed of the material to bepressed in the twenty-fourth embodiment; (A) the transfer speed of thematerial to be pressed at the outlet of the flying press machine, (B)the transfer speed at the inlet of the rolling mill.

[0264] FIGS. 81(A) and 81(B) show the configuration of the twenty-fifthembodiment of the present invention.

[0265]FIG. 82 shows the crank angle θ and the pressing range of thecrank device.

[0266]FIG. 83 is a diagram developed from FIG. 82, with the crank angleθ on the x-axis.

[0267]FIG. 84 shows the speed of the reciprocating motion of the dies.

[0268]FIG. 85 shows the speed variations of the transfer devices.

[0269] FIGS. 86(A), 86(B) and 86(C) are views showing the configurationof the twenty-sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0270]FIG. 87 is a view showing the configuration of the twenty-seventhembodiment of the present invention.

[0271]FIG. 88 is a view showing the configuration of the twenty-eighthembodiment of the present invention.

[0272] FIGS. 89(A), 89(B) and 89(C) show one cycle of operation of apress machine.

[0273]FIG. 90 shows the crank angle 0 and the pressing range of thecrank devices.

[0274] FIGS. 91(A), 91(B), 91(C), 91(D) and 91(E) show the operation ofthe twenty-eighth embodiment.

[0275]FIG. 92 shows the configuration of the twenty-ninth embodimentof-the present invention.

[0276]FIG. 93 shows the configuration of the thirtieth embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0277]FIG. 94 shows the configuration of the thirty-first embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0278] FIGS. 95(A), 95(B) and 95(C) show one cycle of operation of thepress machine.

[0279]FIG. 96 shows the configuration of the thirty-second embodiment ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0280] The embodiments of the present invention are described as followsreferring to the drawings.

[0281] (First Embodiment)

[0282] FIGS. 9 to 13 show the first embodiment of the plate reductionpress apparatus according to the present invention; this apparatus isprovided with a housing 101 erected in a predetermined place on atransfer line S so that a plate-like material 1 to be shaped can passthrough the center portion, upstream eccentric shafts 103 a, 103 bextending in the lateral direction of the material 1 to be shaped andprovided with eccentric portions 102 a, 102 b, downstream eccentricshafts 105 a, 105 b extending in the same direction as theaforementioned upstream eccentric shafts 103 a, 103 b and provided witheccentric portions 104a, 104b, upstream rods 106 a, 106 b and downstreamrods 107 a, 107 b extending up and down, die holders 109 a, 109 b formounting dies 108 a, 108 b, and mechanisms 121 a, 121 b for moving thedies backwards and forwards.

[0283] The upstream eccentric shafts 103 a, 103 b are arranged insidethe housing 101 such that the shafts are opposite each other above andbelow the transfer line S, and the non-eccentric portions 110 a, 110 bat both ends of the shafts are supported by upstream shaft boxes (notillustrated) mounted in the housing 101 through bearings.

[0284] The downstream eccentric shafts 105 a, 105 b are arranged insidethe housing 101 in such a manner that the shafts are opposite each otherabove and below the transfer line S on the downstream B side of thetransfer line downstream of the upstream eccentric shafts 103 a, 103 b,and the non-eccentric portions 111 a, 111 b at both ends of the shaftsare supported by downstream shaft boxes (not illustrated) mounted in thehousing 101 through bearings.

[0285] The drive shaft (not illustrated) of a motor is connected to oneend of each of the upstream eccentric shafts 103 a, 103 b and thedownstream eccentric shafts 105 a, 105 b, through a universal couplingand a gear box, so that each of the eccentric shafts 103 a, 103 b, 105 aand 105 b can rotate in synchronism together.

[0286] The gear box mentioned above is configured in such a manner thatwhen the motor is operated, both upper eccentric shafts 103 a, 105 arotate counterclockwise so that the eccentric portion 104 a of thedownstream eccentric shaft 105 a rotates with a phase angle 90° ahead ofthe phase angle of the eccentric portion 102 a of the upstream eccentricshaft 103 a, and at the same time, both lower eccentric shafts 103 b,105 b beneath the transfer line S rotate clockwise so that the eccentricportion 104 b of the downstream eccentric shaft 105 b rotates with aphase angle 90° ahead of the phase of the eccentric portion 102 b of theupstream eccentric shaft 103 b, as shown in FIGS. 11 through 15; inaddition, the eccentric portions 102 a, 104 a and the eccentric portions102 b, 104 b are positioned symmetrically to each other on oppositesides of the transfer line S.

[0287] The big ends of the upstream rods 106 a, 106 b are connected tothe eccentric portions 102 a, 102 b of the upstream eccentric shafts 103a, 103 b through bearings 112 a, 112 b.

[0288] The big ends of the downstream rods 107 a, 107 b are connected tothe eccentric portions 104 a, 104 b of the downstream eccentric shafts105 a, 105 b through bearings 113 a, 113 b.

[0289] The die holders 109 a, 109 b are installed inside the housing,such that the holders are opposite each other on opposite sides of thetransfer line S.

[0290] Brackets 114 a, 114 b provided near the upstream A side of thetransfer line on the die holders 109 a, 109 b are connected to the tipsof the aforementioned upstream rods 106 a, 106 b by the pins 115 a, 115b and hearings 116 a, 116 b extending substantially horizontally in thelateral direction of the material 1 to be shaped.

[0291] The tips of the above-mentioned downstream rods 107 a, 107 b areconnected to brackets 117 a, 117 b provided near the downstream B sideof the transfer line on the die holders 109 a, 109 b, by the pins 118 a,118 b and bearings 119 a, 119 b, that are parallel to the pins 115 a,115 b.

[0292] By means of these upstream rods 106 a, 106 b and downstream rods107 a, 107 b, and the displacements of the eccentric portions 102 a, 102b associated with the rotation of the above-mentioned upstream eccentricshafts 103 a, 103 b and the displacement of the eccentric portions 104a, 104 b associated with the downstream eccentric shafts 105 a, 105 b,motion is transmitted to the die holders 109 a, 109 b, so that the dieholders 109 a, 109 b move towards and away from the transfer line S witha swinging action.

[0293] The dies 109 a, 109 b mounted on each of the die holders 108 a,108 b face the material 1 to be shaped, as it is being passed throughthe transfer line S, and when viewed from the side of the transfer lineS, the dies are provided with forming surfaces 120 a, 120 b that areconvex circular arcs projecting towards the transfer line S.

[0294] Mechanisms 121 a, 121 b for moving the dies backwards andforwards are composed of arms 122 a, 122 b one end of each of which isfixed to the end of one of the die holders 109 a, 109 b, near thedownstream B side of the transfer line, and projecting in the downstreamB direction of the transfer line, guide members 124 a, 124 b fixed atlocations near to the downstream B side of the transfer line of thehousing 101 and comprised of grooves 123 a, 123 b inclined at an angleto the transfer line so that the distance from the transfer lineincrease in the downstream B direction, and guide rings 126 a, 126 bconnected to the tips of the arms 122 a, 122 b through pins 125 a, 125 bin a rotatable manner, which engage with the grooves 123 a, 123 b of theguide members 124 a. 124 b in a movable manner.

[0295] The mechanisms 121 a, 121 b for moving the dies backwards andforwards give the die holders 109 a, 109 b a reciprocating motionrelative to the transfer line S, so that the die holders 109 a, 109 bmove towards and away from the transfer line S with a swinging motion,associated with the rotation of the upstream eccentric shafts 103 a, 103b and the downstream eccentric shafts 105 a, 105 b, as describedpreviously.

[0296] The operation of the plate reduction press apparatus shown inFIGS. 10 through 13 is described as follows, with particular emphasis onthe upstream eccentric shaft 103 a, downstream eccentric shaft 105 a,upstream rods 106 a, downstream rods 107 a, dies 108 a, and die holders109 a, on the upstream side of the transfer line S.

[0297] When the angles of the eccentric portion 102 a of the upstreameccentric shaft 103 a and the eccentric portion 104 a of the downstreameccentric shaft 105 a are defined such that top dead center is 0°(360°), and both eccentric portions 102 a, 104 a are rotated with theangle of rotation increasing in the counterclockwise direction, and asshown in FIG. 10, the angle of rotation of the eccentric portion 104 aof about 45° is assumed to correspond to the angle of rotation of theeccentric portion 102 a of about 315°; the die 108 a is then in thefarthest position from the transfer line S, and the guide ring 126 a islocated at the end of the guide member 124 a, nearest to the downstreamside of the transfer line.

[0298] When both eccentric shafts 103 a, 105 a rotate counterclockwisefrom the aforementioned state, the die 108 a moves towards the transferline S.

[0299] At this time, because the phase angle of the eccentric portion104 a is 90° ahead of the phase angle of the eccentric portion 102 a,the end of the die 108 a, near to the downstream B side of the transferline, moves towards the transfer line S before the end near the upstreamA side of the transfer line, and at the same time, the guide ring 126 amoves towards the upstream A side of the transfer line, in the guidemember 124 a.

[0300] As shown in FIG. 11, when the angle of rotation of the eccentricportion 102 a becomes about 90° and the angle of rotation of theeccentric portion 104 a is about 180°, the guide ring 126 a reaches theend of the guide member 124 a, near the upstream A side of the transferline, and the portion of the forming surface 120 a of the die 108 a,near to the downstream B side of the transfer line, presses the material1 to be shaped, as it passes along the transfer line S.

[0301] When both eccentric shafts 103 a, 105 a rotate and the angle ofrotation of the eccentric portion 102 a increases and the angle ofrotation of the eccentric portion 104 a becomes greater than 180°, theguide ring 126 a begins to move towards the downstream B side of thetransfer line, in the guide member 124 a, and the die 108 a swings insuch a manner that the portion of the forming surface 120 a of the die108 a, in contact with the material 1 to be shaped, moves towards theupstream A side of the transfer line from the downstream B side thereof,thus the material 1 to be shaped is subjected to a reducing and formingprocess.

[0302] After this, the die 108 a moves towards the downstream B side ofthe transfer line, and feeds the material 1 being reduced and formedtowards the downstream B side of the transfer line without any materialbeing forced backwards.

[0303] As shown in FIG. 12, after the angle of rotation of the eccentricportion 102 a becomes about 135° and the angle of rotation of theeccentric portion 104 a is about 225°, the portion of the formingsurface 120 a of the aforementioned die 108 a, near the upstream A sideof the transfer line, reduces and forms the material 1 to be shaped asthe die 108 a swings in the downstream direction.

[0304] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, when the angles of rotation ofthe eccentric portions 102 a. 104 a become about 180° and 270°,respectively, the die 108 a moves away from the transfer line S.

[0305] During these operations, the upstream eccentric shaft, 103 b.downstream eccentric shaft 105 b, upstream rod 106 b, downstream rod 107b, die 108 b, and die holder 109 b, below the transfer line S, alsooperate in the same way as the ones above the transfer line S asdescribed above, thereby the material 1 to be shaped is reduced andformed from above and below the material.

[0306] In the plate reduction press apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 through13 as described above, the die holders 109 a, 109 b on which the dies108 a, 108 b are mounted are given a swinging motion by the upstreameccentric shafts 103 a, 103 b, downstream eccentric shafts 105 a, 105 b,upstream rods 106 a, 106 b, and downstream rods 107 a, 107 b, in such amanner that the portions of the forming surfaces 120 a, 120 b, incontact with the material 1 to be shaped, of the dies 108 a, 108 b aretransferred from the downstream B side of the transfer line towards theupstream A side thereof as the die holders are brought close to thetransfer line S, so that the areas of the forming surfaces 120 a, 120 bin contact with the material 1 to be shaped are made smaller, so thepressing loads on the dies 108 a, 108 b can be reduced.

[0307] Consequently, the forces imposed on the power transmissionmembers such as the eccentric shafts 103 a, 103 b, 105 a, and 105 b andthe rods 106 a, 106 b, 107 a, and 107 b, are reduced, so that thesecomponents can be made more compact than those known in the prior art.

[0308] Moreover, because the die holders 109 a, 109 b are moved towardsthe downstream B side of the transfer line by the mechanisms 121 a, 121b for moving the dies backwards and forwards when the forming surfaces120 a, 120 b of the dies 108 a, 108 b are in contact with the material 1to be shaped, the material is never forced backwards, but the material 1that is reduced and formed can be fed forwards to the downstream B sideof the transfer line.

[0309] (Second Embodiment)

[0310]FIG. 14 shows the second embodiment of the plate reduction pressapparatus according to the present invention, in the following figures,the item numbers indicate the same components as those shown in FIGS. 9through 13.

[0311] This plate reduction press apparatus incorporates mechanisms 127a, 127 b for moving the dies backwards and forwards in place of themechanisms 121 a, 121 b shown in FIGS. 9 through 13 for moving the diesbackwards and forwards.

[0312] The mechanisms 127 a, 127 b for moving the dies backwards andforwards are composed of brackets 128 a, 128 b fixed to the end portionsof the die holders 109 a, 109 b, near to the downstream B side of thetransfer line, brackets 129 a, 129 b fixed to portions of the housing101, near to the downstream B side of the transfer line, and hydrauliccylinders 134 a, 134 b, the tips of the piston rods 130 a, 130 b ofwhich are connected to the brackets 128 a, 128 b through bearings by thepins 131 a, 131 b and the cylinders 132 a, 132 b of which are connectedto the brackets 129 a, 129 b through bearings by the pins 133 a, 133 b.

[0313] Also with this plate reduction press apparatus, hydraulicpressure is applied to the hydraulic chambers on the head side of thehydraulic cylinders 134 a, 134 b when the forming surfaces 120 a, 120 bof the dies 108 a, 108 b are not in contact with the material 1 to beshaped, thereby the die holders 109 a, 109 b together with the dies 108a, 108 b are moved towards the upstream A side of the transfer line, andwhen the forming surfaces 120 a, 120 b of the dies 108 a, 108 b, arebrought into contact with the material 1 to be shaped, hydraulicpressure is applied to the hydraulic chambers on the rod side of thehydraulic cylinders 134 a, 134 b, thus the die holders 109 a, 109 btogether with the dies 108 a, 108 b are moved towards the downstream Bside of the transfer line; in this way, as for plate reduction pressapparatus described previously by referring to FIGS. 9 through 13, thematerial 1 being shaped can be fed towards the downstream B side of thetransfer line, without forcing any material in the backward direction.

[0314] Also, other types of actuators such as screw jacks can be appliedinstead of the hydraulic cylinders 134 a, 134 b.

[0315] (Third Embodiment)

[0316]FIG. 15 shows the third embodiment of the plate reduction pressapparatus according to the present invention, and in the figure, itemnumbers refer to the same components as those shown in FIGS. 9 through13.

[0317] In this plate reduction press apparatus, mechanisms 135 a, 135 bfor moving the dies backwards and forwards are used in place of themechanisms 121 a, 121 b for moving the dies backwards and forwards,shown in FIGS. 9 through 13.

[0318] The mechanisms 135 a, 135 b for moving the dies backwards andforwards are composed of brackets 128 a, 128 b fixed to the end portionsof the die holders 109 a, 109 b, on the downstream B side of thetransfer line, eccentric shafts 136 a, 136 b for the backwards andforwards movements, provided at locations on the housing 101, near thedownstream B side of the transfer line, which can rotate, and extendingsubstantially horizontally in the lateral direction of the material 1 tobe shaped, and rods 139 a, 139 b for backwards and forwards motion oneend of each of which is connected to the bracket 128 a or 128 b by thepin 137 a or 137 b, and the other ends of which are connected to theeccentric portions 138 a, 138 b, of the eccentric shafts 136 a, 136 bfor backward and forward movements through bearings.

[0319] Also with this plate reduction press apparatus, the eccentricshafts 136 a, 136 b for backward and forward movements are rotated, andthe dies 108 a, 108 b are moved to the upstream A side of the transferline together with the die holders 109 a, 109 b, while the formingsurfaces 120 a, 120 b of the dies 108 a, 108 b are not in contact withthe material 1 to be shaped, and when the forming surfaces 120 a, 120 bof the dies 108 a, 108 b come in contact with the material 1 to beshaped, the eccentric shafts 136 a,136 b for backward and forwardmovements are rotated to move the dies 108 a, 108 b together with thedie holders 109 a, 109 b in the downstream B direction of the transferline, thereby the material 1 after being reduced and formed can be fedout to the downstream B side of the transfer line without any of thematerial being forced backwards, in the same manner as with the platereduction press apparatus described previously by referring to FIGS. 9through 13.

[0320] (Fourth Embodiment)

[0321]FIG. 16 shows the fourth embodiment of the plate reduction pressapparatus according to the present invention, and in the figure, itemnumbers refer to the same components as those in FIGS. 9 through 13.

[0322] This plate reduction press apparatus incorporates mechanisms 140a, 140 b for moving the dies backwards and forwards in place of themechanisms 121 a, 121 b for moving the dies backwards and forwards shownin FIGS. 9 to 13.

[0323] The mechanisms 140 a, 140 b for moving the dies backwards andforwards are composed of brackets 128 a, 128 b fixed to the end portionsof the die holders 109 a, 109 b, closest to the downstream B side of thetransfer line, brackets 141 a, 141 b whose bases are fixed topredetermined locations on the housing 101 in such a manner that thetips of the brackets are positioned on the side of the die holders 109a, 109 b on the opposite side to the transfer line, and levers 144 a,144 b one end of each of which is connected to the bracket 128 a or 128b by the pin 142 a or 142 b, and the other ends of which are connectedto the brackets 141 a, 141 b through the bearings of pins 143 a, 143 b.

[0324] The mounting locations of brackets 128 a, 128 b, 141 a, and 141b, the distances between connecting points of levers 144 a, 144 b, andthe locations of the bearings of levers 144 a, 144 b with respect to thebrackets 128 a, 128 b, 141 a, and 141 b are predetermined in such amanner that as the eccentric shafts 103 a, 103 b, 105 a, and 105 brotate, the die holders 109 a, 109 b with the dies 108 a, 108 b mountedon them, move in substantially the same way as those of the platereduction press apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 to 13.

[0325] This plate reduction press apparatus shown in FIG. 16 accordingto the present invention can feed out the material 1 after being reducedand formed in the downstream B direction of the transfer line withoutcausing any of the material to be forced backwards, in the same manneras the plate reduction press apparatus described previously according toFIGS. 9 to 13.

[0326] As described above, the plate reduction press apparatus andmethods according to the present invention offer the followingadvantages.

[0327] (1) The plate reduction pressing method of the present inventioncan reduce the areas of the forming surfaces of the dies that are incontact with a material to be shaped and the loads applied to the diesduring pressing, because the forming surfaces of the dies are convextowards the transfer line, and the dies are given a swinging motion insuch a manner that the areas of the forming surfaces, that are incontact with the material to be shaped move from the ends in thedownstream direction of the transfer line to the ends in the upstreamdirection while the dies are being moved towards the transfer line fromabove and below the material to be shaped in synchronism with eachother.

[0328] (2) In any of the plate reduction press apparatus of furtherembodiments the present invention, the displacements of the eccentricportions of the upstream and downstream eccentric shafts, with differentphase angles, are transmitted to the die holders through the upstreamand downstream rods and the dies are given a swinging motion in such amanner that the portions of the convex forming surfaces, that are incontact with the material to be shaped, move from the ends in thedownstream direction of the transfer line to the upstream ends, so thatthe areas of the forming surfaces of the dies that are in contact withthe material to be shaped, are made smaller, therefore the loads appliedto the dies during pressing can be reduced

[0329] (3) In any of the plate reduction press apparatus specified inclaims 2 through 6 of the present invention, the loads applied to thedies during pressing are reduced, so the required strengths of theupstream and downstream eccentric shafts, upstream and downstream rods,etc. become moderate, so that these components can be made compact.

[0330] (4) With any of the plate reduction press apparatus of thepresent invention, the loads applied to the dies during pressing arereduced, the die holders are moved in the downstream direction of thetransfer line by the mechanisms for moving the dies backwards andforwards when the forming surfaces of the dies are in contact with thematerial to be shaped, so the material after being reduced and formed isfed out in the downstream direction of the transfer line without forcingany of the material in the backward direction.

[0331] (Fifth Embodiment)

[0332]FIGS. 17 and 18 show the fifth embodiment of the plate reductionpress apparatus according to the present invention.

[0333] Item number 207 represents the main unit of a press machine thatis comprised of a housing 208, upper shaft box 209, lower shaft box 210,upper and lower rotating shafts 211 a, 211 b, upper and lower rods 212a, 212 b, upper and lower rod support boxes 213 a, 213 b, and upper andlower dies 214 a, 214 b.

[0334] The housing 208 is provided with a window 215 on both sides inthe lateral direction of the transfer line S on which a material 1 to beshaped is transferred horizontally, and extending in the verticaldirection thereof.

[0335] The upper shaft box 209 engages with the upper end portion of theaforementioned window 215 in such a manner that it can slide in thevertical direction, and the vertical position of the upper shaft box isdetermined by an adjusting screw 216 which is mounted in the upper partof the housing 208 and driven by a driving device (not illustrated).

[0336] The lower shaft box 210 engages with the lower part of the window215 of the above-mentioned housing 208, in such a manner that it is freeto move in the vertical direction, and the vertical position thereof isdetermined by an adjusting screw 216 which is mounted in the lower partof the housing 208 and rotated by a driving device (not illustrated).

[0337] Each of the upper and lower rotating shafts 211 a, 211 b isprovided with an eccentric portion 217 at an intermediate location inthe axial direction, and both ends thereof are supported by theaforementioned upper and lower shaft boxes 209, 210, respectively, andthe other end of each shaft is connected to the driving device (notillustrated) through a universal joint.

[0338] The big ends of each of the upper and lower rods 212 a, 212 b arecoupled to the eccentric portions 217 of each of the rotating shafts 211a, 211 b, through bearings 218, and the die holders 219 a, 219 b areconnected to tips of the rods 212 a, 212 b, through ball joints (notillustrated).

[0339] The piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders 220 that are attachedto the rods 212 a, 212 b through bearings are connected to the dieholders 219 a, 219 b, so that the angles of the dies 214 a, 214 bmounted on the die holders 219 a, 219 b can be adjusted by actuating theabove-mentioned hydraulic cylinders 220.

[0340] Each of the upper and lower rod support boxes 213 a, 213 b isattached to an intermediate location on each of the rods 212 a, 212 b,through spherical bearings (not illustrated) located substantially inthe middle, and each of the rod support boxes engages with the window215 in a manner such that it can freely slide up and down.

[0341] The upper and lower dies 214 a, 214 b are provided with similarprofiles to those of the dies 14 a, 14 b shown in FIG. 2, and aremounted on the die holders 219 a, 219 b, respectively, opposite eachother on opposite sides of the transfer line S, in a freely detachablemanner, and when the rotating shafts 211 a, 211 b rotate, the dies aredriven by the rods 212 a, 212 b, and move towards and away from thetransfer line S in synchronism with each other.

[0342] Item number 221 represents an upstream table comprised of a fixedframe 222 installed on the upstream A side of the transfer line of themain press apparatus unit 207 and extending substantially horizontallyalong the transfer line S, and a plurality of upstream table rollers 223that are provided in a freely rotatable manner at predeterminedintervals in the transfer line direction so as to support the lowersurface of a material to be inserted between the dies 214 a, 214 b andshaped by the main press apparatus unit 207, substantially horizontally.

[0343] Item number 224 indicates the first up/down table which iscomposed of a first up/down frame 225 installed in the close vicinity ofthe main press apparatus unit 207 on the downstream B side of thetransfer line, and extending substantially horizontally along thetransfer line S in a manner such that it can be moved up and down, and aplurality of up/down table rollers 226 that are provided in a freelyrotatable manner on the first up/down frame 225 at predeterminedintervals along the transfer line so that the rollers can support thelower surface of the material 1 after being formed, as the material isfed out from between the dies 214 a, 214 b of the main press apparatusunit 207.

[0344] The aforementioned first up/down frame 225 is composed of aplurality of guide members 228 erected at predetermined locations on thefloor surface 227 on the downstream side of the transfer line S, and amain frame unit 229 equipped with leg portions that engage with theguide members 228 in a manner such that they can move up and down, inwhich the main frame unit 229 is connected to the piston rods of thehydraulic cylinders 230 installed at predetermined intervals in thelongitudinal direction of the main frame unit 229, and attached to thefloor surface 227 through bearings. When the hydraulic cylinders 230 areoperated, the main frame unit 229 is raised and lowered in asubstantially horizontal state and the height of each up/down tableroller 226 can be adjusted relative to the transfer line S.

[0345] Item number 231 indicates a second up/down table comprised of asecond up/down frame 232 extending along the transfer line S from theabove-mentioned up/down table 224 in the downstream B direction of thetransfer line and free to move up and down, and a plurality of up/downtable rollers 232 provided on the second up/down frame 232 atpredetermined intervals in the direction of the transfer line in afreely rotatable manner so that the rollers can support the lowersurface of the material 1 after being shaped and fed out from the firstup/down table 224.

[0346] The aforementioned second up/down frame 232 is composed of aplurality of guide members 234 erected at predetermined locations on thefloor surface 227 beneath the transfer line S, leg portions 235 engagingwith the guide members 234 in a manner so that they can move up anddown, and a main frame unit 236 supported on the leg portions 235through bearings; the main frame unit 236 is connected to the pistonrods of a plurality of hydraulic cylinders 237 arranged along the mainframe unit 236 at predetermined intervals and supported on the floorsurface 227 by bearings.

[0347] Each of the aforementioned hydraulic cylinders 237 can beoperated individually, and by actuating each of the above-mentionedhydraulic cylinders 237 individually, the second up/down frame 232 israised and lowered in such a manner that the height of the secondup/down table 231 at the upstream end in the direction of the transferline S becomes identical to the height of the first up/down table 224,and the height of the end in the downstream direction of the transferline S is slightly higher than the height of the downstream table 238 tobe detailed later.

[0348] In addition, the first and second up/down tables 224, 231 canalso be lowered to a horizontal position substantially at the sameheight as the upstream table 221 by the hydraulic cylinders 230, 237provided for the first and second up/down tables 224. 231.

[0349] Item number 238 shows the downstream table configured with afixed frame 239 arranged adjacent to the second up/down table 231 on thedownstream B side of the transfer line and extending substantiallyhorizontally along the transfer line S, and provided with a plurality ofdownstream table rollers 240 installed at predetermined intervals in thetransfer line in a freely rotatable manner so that the lower surface ofthe material 1 after being shaped and fed out from the second up/downtable 231 can be supported substantially horizontally at a heightessentially the same as the height of the upstream table 221.

[0350] The operation of the plate reduction press apparatus shown inFIGS. 17 and 18 is described as follows.

[0351] When a long material 1 to be shaped is to be reduced and formedin the direction of its plate thickness by means of dies 214 a, 214 b,first a driving device (not illustrated) rotates the up/down adjustingscrews 216 of the main press apparatus 207, thereby moving the upper andlower shaft boxes 209, 210 Lip or down along the housing 208, and thedies 214 a, 214 b are moved towards or away from the transfer line S bythe rotating shafts 211 a, 211 b, rods 212 a, 212 b and die holders 219a, 219 b connected to each of the shaft boxes 209 or 210, thus the gapbetween the die 214 a and the die 214 b can be determined.

[0352] Referring to FIG. 17, the hydraulic cylinders 230 of the firstup/down table 224, arranged in the close vicinity of the main pressapparatus unit 207 on the downstream B side of the transfer line, areactuated to raise or lower the first up/down frame 225, thereby theheight of the first up/down table 224 is set so that the up/down tablerollers 226 will come in contact with the lower surface of the material1 after being reduced, formed and fed out from the dies 214 a, 214 b,and the material after being shaped will be supported approximatelyhorizontally.

[0353] In addition, by raising and lowering the second up/down frame 232by individually operating the hydraulic cylinders 237 of the secondup/down table 231, provided on the downstream B side of tile firstup/down table 224 in the transfer line, the position of the secondup/down table 231 in the vertical direction is determined such that thematerial 1 after being shaped will gradually descend from the level ofthe first up/down table 224 towards the downstream table 238.

[0354] After that, the driving device (not illustrated) of the mainpress apparatus unit 207 is operated to rotate the rotating shafts 211a, 211 b, thereby the upper and lower dies 214 a, 214 b are continuouslymoved towards and away from the transfer line S of the material 1 to beshaped, and also the material 1 to be shaped is placed on the upstreamtable 221 from the upstream A side of the transfer line, and moved andinserted between the dies 214 a, 214 b, and the angles of the dies 214a, 214 b are changed appropriately by the hydraulic cylinders 220 a, 220b, both the upper and lower surfaces of the material 1 to be shaped, arepressed by the dies 214 a, 214 b simultaneously while the material 1 tobe shaped is moving, and by repeating these operations, the thickness ofthe material 1 being shaped is reduced as shown in FIG. 2, to apredetermined dimension.

[0355] The material 1 after being shaped by the dies 214 a, 214 b of themain press apparatus unit 207, moves on to the first up/down table 224,is guided downwards by the second up/down table 231 and smoothlytransferred onto the downstream table 238, and is transferred to thedownstream B side of the transfer line.

[0356] The plate reduction press apparatus shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 isprovided with a plurality of up/down table rollers 226 adjacent to themain press apparatus 207 on the downstream B side of the transfer line,that can be raised and lowered to match the lower surface of thematerial 1 being reduced, formed and fed out of the dies 214 a, 214 b,and a plurality of up/down table rollers 233 on the downstream B side ofthe up/down table rollers 226, whose heights can be set such that thematerial after being shaped gradually descends from the height of theup/down table rollers 226 towards the downstream table rollers 240,thereby preventing the leading end portion of the material 1 beingreduced and shaped by the dies 214 a, 214 b of the main press apparatusunit 207 from drooping, and also preventing the leading end portion ofthe material 1 being shaped from being caught by the downstream tablerollers 240 installed on the downstream B side of the transfer line S.Consequently, both the downstream table rollers 240 and the material 1being shaped can be protected from being damaged, thereby the material 1to be shaped can be reduced and formed in the direction of the platethickness, and the material 1 being shaped can also be transferredsecurely to the downstream B side.

[0357] If a long material 1 to be shaped is to be passed without beingreduced and formed by the dies 214 a, 214 b in the direction of theplate thickness, the first and second up/down tables 224, 231 arepositioned as shown in FIG. 18

[0358] First, a driving device (not illustrated) rotates the upper andlower adjusting screws 216 of the main press apparatus unit 207, therebymoving the upper shaft box 209 and the lower shaft box 210 upwards anddownwards, respectively, along the housing 208, thereby separating thedies 214 a, 214 b, from the transfer line S of the material 1 to beshaped by the rotating shafts 211 a, 211 b, rods 212 a, 212 b and dieholders 219 a, 219 b connected to each of the shaft boxes 209, 210, andthe driving device (not illustrated) of the main press apparatus unit207 is operated to rotate the rotating shafts 211 a, 211 b so that eachof the dies 214 a, 214 b is moved to the farthest location from thetransfer line S of the material 1 to be shaped, and stopped there.

[0359] Also, the hydraulic cylinders 230 of the first up/down table 224located in the close vicinity of the main press apparatus unit 207 onthe downstream B side of the transfer line are operated, and the firstup/down frame 225 is lowered, and also the hydraulic cylinders 237 ofthe second up/down table 231 are operated to lower the second up/downframe 232, thereby the positions of the up/down tables 224, 231 in thevertical direction are set at a height equivalent to the height of theupstream and downstream tables 221, 238.

[0360] After that, the material 1 to be shaped is loaded on andtransferred by the upstream table 221 from the upstream A side of thetransfer line (A side shown in FIG. 18), passed through the dies 214 a,214 b of the main press apparatus unit 207, and sent out to the firstup/down table 224 on the downstream B side of the transfer line of themain unit 207.

[0361] The material 1 to be shaped, after moving onto the first up/downtable 224, is further guided by the second up/down table 231 andtransferred onto the downstream table 238, and conveyed towards thedownstream B side of the transfer line of the material 1 to be shaped.

[0362] In this way, with the plate reduction press apparatus shown inFIGS. 17 and 18, the vertical positions of the first and second up/downtables 224, 231 installed on the downstream B side of the transfer lineof the main press apparatus 207 in a manner such that they can move upand down, can be set at the same level as those of the upstream table221 and the downstream table 238. Consequently, even when the material 1to be shaped is neither reduced nor formed in the direction of its platethickness, the material 1 to be shaped can be conveyed securely to thedownstream B side.

[0363] (Sixth Embodiment)

[0364]FIGS. 19 and 20 show the sixth embodiment of the plate reductionpress apparatus according to the present invention; item numbers in thefigures represent the same components as in FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0365] Item number 241 indicates an upstream table composed of a fixedframe 242 provided on the upstream A side of the transfer line of themain press apparatus 207, and extending substantially horizontally alongthe transfer line S, and a plurality of upstream table rollers 243provided on the aforementioned fixed frame 242 at predeterminedintervals in the direction of the transfer line in a freely rotatablemanner, so that the lower surface of the material 1 can be insertedbetween and shaped by the dies 214 a, 214 b of the main press apparatusunit 207.

[0366] Item number 244 shows a first up/down table that is composed of afirst up/down frame 245 installed on the downstream B side of theupstream table 241 in the transfer line and extending along the transferline S in a manner such that it can move up and down, and a plurality ofup/down table rollers 246 installed at predetermined intervals in thedirection of the transfer line in a freely rotatable manner so as tosupport the lower surface of the material to be shaped and fed out fromthe above-mentioned upstream table 241.

[0367] The aforementioned first up/down frame 245 is supported on thefloor surface 27 by up/down mechanisms (not illustrated) similar to theguide members 234 and the hydraulic cylinders 237 (see FIGS. 17 and 18)described before, and can be raised and lowered with respect to thetransfer line S.

[0368] Item number 247 is a second up/down table, installed between thefirst up/down table 244 and the main press apparatus 207 and extendingsubstantially horizontally along the transfer line S in a manner suchthat it can move up and down and which is provided with a second up/downframe 248 and a plurality of up/down table rollers 249 installed on thesecond up/down frame 248 at predetermined intervals in the direction ofthe transfer line in a freely rotatable manner so as to support thelower surface of the material to be shaped and fed out from the firstup/down table 244.

[0369] The aforementioned second up/down frame 248 is supported on thefloor surface 227 by up/down mechanisms (not illustrated) similar to theguide members 228 and the hydraulic cylinders 230 (see FIGS. 17 and 18)described before, and can be raised and lowered with respect to thetransfer line S.

[0370] In addition, the above-mentioned first and second up/down tables244, 247 can be raised to a position substantially at the same height asthe above mentioned upstream table 241 by the up/down mechanismsprovided for the tables, respectively.

[0371] Item number 250 indicates a downstream table installed on thedownstream B side of the main press apparatus unit 207 in the transferline, which is provided with a fixed frame 251, and extendingsubstantially horizontally along the transfer line S, a plurality ofdownstream table rollers 252 installed on the fixed frame 251 atpredetermined intervals in the transfer line in a freely rotatablemanner, so that the lower surface of the material 1 after being shapedand fed out from between the dies 214 a, 214 b can be supportedsubstantially horizontally and essentially at the same height as theabove-mentioned upstream table 241.

[0372] The operation of the plate reduction press apparatus shown inFIGS. 19 and 20 is described in the following paragraphs.

[0373] When a long material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formed in thedirection of its plate thickness using the dies 214 a, 214 b, first thegap between the die 214 a and the die 214 b, in the main press apparatusunit 207, is determined.

[0374] Then, as shown in FIG. 19, the up/down mechanisms (notillustrated) adjust the heights of the first and second up/down tables244, 247 in such a manner that the up/down table rollers 246, 249contact the lower surface of the material 1 to be shaped, when fed outfrom the upstream table 241 towards the dies 214 a, 214 b, and thecenter lines of the material 1 before and after being pressed, upstreamand downstream of the main press apparatus 207, are at the same heightand the material 1 to be shaped and after being shaped is maintainedsubstantially horizontal.

[0375] Next, the upper and lower dies 214 a, 214 b are continuouslymoved towards and away from each other in the main press apparatus unit207, and the material 1 to be shaped is placed on the upstream table 221and transferred from the upstream A side of the transfer line, andinserted between the above-mentioned dies 214 a, 214 b, thereby reducingthe thickness of the material 1 being shaped as shown in FIG. 2 to apredetermined dimension.

[0376] The material 1 after being shaped by the dies 214 a, 214 b of themain press apparatus unit 207 is transferred smoothly onto thedownstream table 250, and conveyed to the downstream B side of thetransfer line of the material 1 being shaped.

[0377] As described above, the plate reduction press apparatus shown inFIGS. 19 and 20 is provided with a plurality of up/down table rollers246, 249 on the upstream A side of the main press apparatus unit 207 onthe transfer line, that can be raised and lowered according to theposition of the lower surface of the material 1 being reduced, formedand fed out from the dies 214 a, 214 b, therefore the leading endportion of the material 1 being reduced and formed by the dies 214 a,214 b of the main press apparatus unit 207 can be prevented fromdrooping and also the leading end portion of the material 1 being shapedcan be prevented from being caught by the downstream table rollers 252installed on the downstream B side of the transfer line S. Therefore,both the downstream table rollers 252 and the material 1 being shapedcan be protected from damage, so that the material 1 being shaped can bereduced and formed in the direction of the plate thickness efficiently,and can be transferred securely to the downstream B side.

[0378] When a long material 1 is to be passed without being reduced orformed in the direction of the plate thickness with the dies 214 a, 214b, the first up/down table 244 and the second up/down table 247 arepositioned as shown in FIG. 20.

[0379] First, the upper and lower dies 214 a, 214 b of the main pressapparatus unit 207 are moved away from the transfer line S of thematerial 1 to be shaped, and each of the dies 214 a, 214 b is moved to aposition farthest from the transfer line S of the material 1, andstopped there.

[0380] In addition, the up/down mechanisms (not illustrated) raise thefirst and second up/down tables 244, 247, and each of the up/down tablerollers 247, 249 is adjusted to be at the same height as the upstreamtable rollers 243 of the upstream table 241 and the downstream tablerollers 252 of the downstream table 250.

[0381] Thereafter, the material 1 to be shaped is loaded on the upstreamtable 241 from the upstream A side of the transfer line (A side shown inFIG. 20) and transferred, passing from the first and second up/downtables 244, 247 between the dies 214 a, 214 b of the main pressapparatus unit 207, and is fed out onto the downstream table 250 on thedownstream B side of the transfer line of the main press apparatus unit207.

[0382] In the manner described above, with the plate reduction pressapparatus shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the vertical positions of the firstup/down table 244 and the second up/down table 247, installed on theupstream A side of the transfer line of the main press apparatus unit207, can be set to be at the same height as the upstream table 241 andthe downstream table 250, so that even when the material 1 to be shapedis neither reduced nor formed in the direction of the plate thickness,the material 1 to be shaped can be securely transferred to thedownstream B side.

[0383] However, the plate reduction press apparatus and the operatingmethods according to the present invention are not limited only to theembodiments described above, but, for example, the up/down table rollerscan be configured in a manner such that they can be moved up and downindividually, or the up/down table rollers can be installed on both theupstream and downstream sides of the transfer line of the main pressapparatus unit, or otherwise, various modifications can be made as longas the claims of the present invention are satisfied, as a matter ofcourse.

[0384] The following various advantages can be gained as describedabove, according to the plate reduction press apparatus and theoperating methods of the present invention.

[0385] (1) The plate reduction press apparatus of the present inventionis provided with the movable up/down table rollers downstream of thedies, to support the lower surface of the material after being reducedand shaped by the dies in the direction of the plate thickness,therefore drooping of the leading end portion of the material beingreduced and shaped by the dies can be prevented, and the table rollersand the material being shaped can be protected from damage that mightotherwise occur due to the drooping of the material.

[0386] (2) With the plate reduction press apparatus specified in claim 8of the present invention, the movable up/down table rollers are providedupstream of the dies, to support the lower surface of the material to beinserted into and shaped by the dies, so drooping of the leading endportion of the material being reduced and shaped by the dies can beprevented, and the table rollers and the material being shaped can beprotected from damage that might otherwise occur due to the drooping ofthe material.

[0387] (3) In the plate reduction press apparatus of a furtherembodiment, the movable up/down table rollers are installed upstream ofthe dies to support the lower surface of the material to be insertedinto and shaped by the dies, and the movable up/down table rollers areprovided downstream of the dies to support the lower surface of thematerial reduced and shaped by the dies in the direction of the platethickness, so the drooping of the leading end portion of the materialbeing reduced and shaped by the dies can be prevented, and the tablerollers and the material being shaped can be protected from damage thatmight otherwise occur due to the drooping of the material.

[0388] (4) According to the method of operating the plate reductionpress apparatus, of the present invention, some of the movable up/downtable rollers that are provided to support the lower surface of thematerial being reduced and shaped by the dies in the direction of theplate thickness, are set in such a manner that the material being shapedgradually descends towards the downstream table rollers, so the leadingend portion of the material being reduced and shaped can be preventedfrom being caught by the downstream table rollers, and therefore thematerial being shaped can be securely transferred towards the downstreamside.

[0389] (5) In a further embodiment of the method of operating the platereduction press apparatus of the present invention, the up/down tablerollers are set so that the material to be shaped, which is to beinserted into the dies, is placed in a substantially horizontal positionbefore being reduced and formed, therefore the leading end portion ofthe material being reduced and formed can be prevented from being caughtby the downstream table rollers, and the material being shaped can betransferred securely in the downstream direction.

[0390] (6) According to the method of operating the plate reductionpress apparatus of another embodiment of the present invention, theup/down table rollers are set in such a manner that the material to beshaped, is placed in a substantially horizontal position before beinginserted into, reduced and formed by the dies, and the material afterbeing reduced and formed by the dies in the direction of plate thicknessis also approximately horizontal, consequently the material after beingreduced and formed can be protected, from being caught by the downstreamtable rollers, and so the material being shaped can be transferredsecurely in the downstream direction.

[0391] (7) In any of the methods of operating the plate reduction pressapparatus discussed above according to the present invention, theheights of the up/down table rollers can be set equal to those of theupstream and downstream table rollers, so that a material that is beingneither reduced nor shaped by the dies can be transferred securely inthe downstream direction.

[0392] (Seventh Embodiment)

[0393]FIGS. 21 through 25 show an example of a plate reduction pressapparatus according to the present invention; this plate reduction pressapparatus is provided with a housing 319 erected at a predeterminedlocation on the transfer line S so that the material 1 to be shaped canpass through the center portion of the housing, a pair of upstreamsliders 324 a, 324 b arranged above and below the transfer line Sopposite each other, a pair of downstream sliders 325 a, 325 b locatedon the downstream B side of the upstream sliders 324 a, 324 b in thetransfer line, opposite each other above and below the transfer line S,upstream dies 330 a, 330 b supported by the upstream sliders 324 a, 324b, downstream dies 333 a, 333 b supported by the downstream sliders 325a, 325 b, mechanisms 336 a, 336 b for moving the upstream sliders thatmove the upstream sliders 324 a, 324 b towards the transfer line S andmove the sliders away from the line S, the mechanisms 344 a, 344 b formoving the downstream sliders that move the downstream sliders 325 a,325 b towards and away from the transfer line S, upstream hydrauliccylinders 352 a, 352 b as the mechanisms for moving the upstream diesthat move the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b backwards and forwards alongthe transfer line S, hydraulic cylinders 354 a, 354 b as the mechanismsfor moving the downstream dies that move the downstream dies 333 a, 333b backwards and forwards along the transfer line S, and synchronousdriving mechanisms 356 a, 356 b corresponding to both theabove-mentioned mechanisms 336 a, 336 b, 344 a and 344 b for moving thesliders.

[0394] Inside a housing 319, upstream slider holders 320 a, 320 b areinstalled opposite each other above and below a transfer line S near theupstream A side of the transfer line, and constructed to be concave inthe direction away from the transfer line, and downstream slider holders321 a, 321 b are installed opposite each other on opposite sides of thetransfer line S near the downstream B side of the transfer line, andconstructed to be concave in the direction away from the transfer line;the downstream slider holders 321 a, 321 b are located closer to thetransfer line S than the upstream slider holders 320 a, 320 b.

[0395] On the outer surface of the housing 319, there are rod insertionholes 322 a, 322 b communicating with the upstream slider holders 320 a,320 b from the top and bottom of the housing, near the upstream A sideof the transfer line, and rod insertion holes 323 a, 323 b communicatingwith the downstream slider holders 321 a, 321 b from the top and bottomof the housing, near the downstream B side of the transfer line, foreach of the slider holders 320 a, 320 b, 321 a, and 321 b, at 2locations each in a row in the lateral direction of the material 1 to beshaped.

[0396] The upstream sliders 324 a, 324 b are housed in the upstreamslider holders 320 a, 320 b so that the sliders can slide in thedirection towards and away from the transfer line S, and the downstreamsliders 325 a, 325 b are housed in the downstream slider holders 321 a,321 b so that the sliders can slide in the direction towards and awayfrom the transfer line S.

[0397] On the surfaces facing the transfer line S of the upstreamsliders 324 a, 324 b and the downstream sliders 325 a, 325 b, dieholders 326 a, 326 b, 327 a, and 327 b are provided that can movebackwards and forwards substantially horizontally in the direction ofthe transfer line S.

[0398] On the surfaces farthest from the transfer line, of the upstreamsliders, 324 a, 324 b and the downstream sliders 325 a, 325 b, brackets328 a, 328 b, 329 b, and 329 b are constructed with 2 brackets at eachlocation, immediately opposite the rod insertion holes 322 a, 322 b, 323a, and 323 b.

[0399] The upstream dies 330 a, 330 b are provided with flat formingsurfaces 331 a, 331 b that gradually approach the transfer line S fromthe upstream A side to the downstream B side of the transfer line, andflat forming surfaces 332 a, 332 b continuing from the downstream B sideof the above-mentioned forming surfaces 331 a, 331 b in the direction ofthe transfer line, facing the transfer line S substantiallyhorizontally, and the dies 330 a, 330 b are mounted on theaforementioned die holders 326 a, 326 b.

[0400] The downstream dies 333 a, 333 b are provided with flat formingsurfaces 334 a 334 b that gradually approach the transfer line S fromthe upstream A side to the downstream B side of the transfer line, andflat forming surfaces 335 a, 335 b continuing from the downstream B sideof the above-mentioned forming surfaces 334 a, 334 b substantiallyparallel to and facing the transfer line S, and the dies 333 a, 333 bare mounted on the aforementioned die holders 327 a, 327 b.

[0401] The mechanisms 336 a, 336 b for moving the upstream sliders arecomposed of shaft boxes 337 a, 337 b above and below the housing 319 andpositioned on the sides away from above-mentioned upstream sliderholders 320 a, 320 b, crank shafts 339 a, 339 b extending substantiallyhorizontally in the direction orthogonal to the transfer line S, whosenon-eccentric portions 338 a, 338 b are supported by the shaft boxes 337a, 337 b through bearings, and rods 342 a, 342 b inserted through theabove-mentioned rod insertion holes 322 a, 322 b, and the big ends ofwhich are connected to the eccentric portions 340 a, 340 b of the crankshafts 339 a, 339 b, and the tips of which are connected to the brackets328 a, 328 b of the upstream sliders 324 a, 324 b by the pins 341 a, 341b parallel to the crank shafts 339 a, 339 b, through bearings.

[0402] The shaft box 337 a located above the transfer line S issupported by a support member 343 a provided above the housing 319, andthe shaft box 337 b located below the transfer line S is supported by asupport member 343 b provided on the lower part of the housing in amanner such that it can be moved up and down.

[0403] In addition, the location of the shaft box 337 b with respect tothe transfer line S can be determined by moving it up or down with aposition adjusting screw (not illustrated).

[0404] In these mechanisms 336 a, 336 b, for moving the upstreamsliders, when the crank shafts 339 a, 339 b rotate, the displacements ofthe eccentric portions 340 a, 340 b are transmitted to the upstreamsliders 324 a, 324 b through the rods 342 a, 342 b, and the die holders326 a, 326 b and the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b move towards and awayfrom the transfer line S together with the above-mentioned upstreamsliders 324 a, 324 b.

[0405] The mechanisms 344 a, 344 b for moving the downstream sliders arecomposed of shaft boxes 345 a, 345 b arranged on the top and bottom ofthe housing 319 on the sides farther from the transfer line than theaforementioned downstream slider holders 321 a, 321 b, crank shafts 347a, 347 b extending substantially horizontally in the directionorthogonal to the transfer line S, whose non-eccentric portions 346 a,346 b are supported by the shaft boxes 345 a, 345 b through bearings,and rods 350 a, 350 b inserted through the above-mentioned rod insertionholes 323 a, 323 b, the big ends of which are connected to the eccentricportions 348 a, 348 b of the crank shafts 347 a, 347 b through bearings,and the tips of which are connected to the brackets 329 a, 329 b of thedownstream sliders 325 a, 325 b through the bearings of pins 349 a, 349b parallel to the crank shafts 347 a, 347 b.

[0406] The shaft box 345 a located above the transfer line S issupported by and fixed to a support member 351 a provided on top of thehousing 319, and the shaft box 345 b located below the transfer line Sis supported by a support member 351 b provided on bottom of the housing319 in a manner such that it can be moved up and down.

[0407] Further, the location of the shaft box 345 b with respect to thetransfer line S can be set by moving it up or down with a positionadjusting screw (not illustrated).

[0408] In the aforementioned mechanisms 344 a, 344 b for moving thedownstream sliders, the displacements of the eccentric portions 348 a,348 b associated with the rotation of the crank shafts 347 a, 347 b aretransmitted to the downstream sliders 325 a, 325 b through the rods 350a, 350 b, and the die holders 327 a, 327 b and the downstream dies 333a, 333 b move towards and away from the transfer line S together withthe above-mentioned downstream sliders 325 a, 325 b.

[0409] Upstream hydraulic cylinders 352 a, 352 b are installed on theupstream A side of the upstream sliders 324 a, 324 b on the transferline so that the piston rods 353 a, 353 b point towards the downstream Bside of the transfer line and are located parallel to the transfer lineS, and the aforementioned piston rods 353 a, 353 b are connected to theupstream dies 330 a, 330 b.

[0410] With these upstream hydraulic cylinders 352 a, 352 b, whenhydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic chambers on the headside, the piston rods 353 a, 353 b are pushed out, and the die holders326 a, 326 b and the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b move towards thedownstream B side of the upstream sliders 324 a, 324 b on the transferline, and when hydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic chamberson the rod side, the piston rods 353 a, 353 b are retracted, and the dieholders 326 a, 326 b and the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b move towards theupstream A side of the upstream sliders 324 a, 324 b on the transferline.

[0411] The downstream hydraulic cylinders 354 a, 354 b are mounted nearthe downstream B side of the downstream sliders 325 a, 325 b on thetransfer line so that the piston rods 355 a, 355 b point towards theupstream A side of the transfer line and are located parallel to thetransfer line S, and the above-mentioned piston rods 355 a, 355 b areconnected to the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b.

[0412] With these downstream hydraulic cylinders 354 a, 354 b, whenhydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic chambers on the rod side,the piston rods 355 a, 355 b are retracted, and the die holders 327 a,327 b and the upstream dies 333 a, 333 b move towards the downstream Bside of the downstream sliders 325 a, 325 b on the transfer line, andwhen hydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic chambers on the headside, the piston rods 355 a, 355 b are pushed out, and the die holders327 a, 327 b and the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b move towards theupstream A side of the downstream sliders 325 a, 325 b on the transferline.

[0413] Synchronous drive mechanisms 356 a, 356 b arc provided with inputshafts 357 a, 357 b, upstream output shafts 358 a, 358 b. downstreamoutput shafts 359 a, 359 b, and a plurality of gears (not illustrated)that transmit the rotation of the input shafts 357 a, 357 b to theoutput shafts 358 a, 358 b, 359 a, and 359 b, and when the input shafts357 a, 357 b rotate, the output shafts 358 a, 358 b, 359 a, and 359 brotate in the same direction at the same rotational speed.

[0414] The upstream output shaft 358 a of the synchronous drivemechanism 356 a is connected on one side through a universal coupling(not illustrated) to, a non-eccentric portion 338 a of the crank shaft339 a that is a component of the mechanism 336 a for moving the upstreamslider and the downstream output shaft 359 a is connected through auniversal coupling (not illustrated), to a non-eccentric portion 338 bof the crank shaft 347 a that is a component of the mechanism 344 a formoving the downstream slider.

[0415] The crank shafts 339 a, 347 a are connected to the aforementionedoutput shafts 358 a, 359 a in such a state that there is a phase angledifference of 180° between the eccentric portion 340 a of the crankshaft 339 a and the eccentric portion 348 a of the crank shaft 347 a.

[0416] The upstream output shaft 358 b of the other synchronous drivemechanism 356 b, is connected via a universal coupling (not illustrated)to a non-eccentric portion 338 b of the crank shaft 339 b, that is acomponent of the mechanism 336 b for moving the upstream slider, and thedownstream output shaft 359 b, is connected through a universal coupling(not illustrated) to a non-eccentric portion 338 b of the crank shaft347 b that is a component of the mechanism 344 b for moving thedownstream slider.

[0417] The crank shafts 339 b, 347 b are connected to the aforementionedoutput shafts 358 b, 359 b in such a state that there is a phase angledifference of 180° between the eccentric portion 340 b of the crankshaft 339 b and the eccentric portion 348 b of the crank shaft 347 b.

[0418] The input shafts 357 a, 357 b of the synchronous drive mechanisms356 a, 356 b. are connected to the output shafts of motors throughuniversal couplings (not illustrated), and one motor operates so thatthe crank shafts 339 a, 347 a rotate counterclockwise in FIGS. 21through 24, and the other motor operates so that the crank shafts 339 b,347 b rotate clockwise in FIGS. 21 through 24.

[0419] The rotational speeds of the upper and lower motors arecontrolled by a control device (not illustrated) synchronously in such amanner that the speed of rotation corresponds to the speed of thematerial 1 to be shaped, moving on the transfer line S, and the phaseangles of the upper crank shafts 339 a, 347 a and the lower crank shafts339 b, 347 b are symmetrical with respect to the transfer line S.

[0420] When the material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formed by theplate reduction press apparatus as shown in FIGS. 21 through 25,position adjusting screws (not illustrated) for the lower shaft boxes337 b, 345 b of the transfer line S are rotated appropriately, therebythe space between the upper dies 330 a, 330 b and the space between thedownstream dies 333 a, 333 b are determined according to the platethickness of the material 1 to be reduced and formed.

[0421] Also, both of the motors (not illustrated) connected to thesynchronous drive mechanisms 356 a, 356 b are operated to rotate thecrank shafts 339 a, 347 a above the transfer line S counterclockwise andthe crank shafts 339 b, 347 b below the transfer line S clockwise.

[0422] Thus, as the crank shafts 339 a, 339 b rotate the displacementsof the eccentric portions 340 a, 340 b, are transmitted to the upstreamsliders 324 a, 324 b through the rods 342 a, 342 b, and the upstreamdies 330 a, 330 b move towards and away from the transfer line Stogether with the above-mentioned upstream sliders 324 a, 324 b, and asthe crank shafts 347 a, 347 b rotate the displacements of the eccentricportions 348 a, 348 b are transmitted to the downstream sliders 325 a,325 b through the rods 350 a, 350 b, and the downstream (lies 333 a, 333b move towards and away from the transfer line S in the reverse phase tothe aforementioned upstream dies 330 a, 330 b, together with theabove-mentioned sliders 325 a, 325 b.

[0423] Moreover, when the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b move towards thetransfer line S, hydraulic pressure is applied to the fluid chambers onthe head side of the upstream hydraulic cylinders 352 a, 352 b, and theupstream dies 330 a, 330 b are moved to the downstream B side of thetransfer line (see FIGS. 22 and 23), and when the upstream dies 330 a,330 b move away from the transfer line S, hydraulic pressure is appliedto the fluid chambers on the rod side of the upstream hydrauliccylinders 352 a, 352 b, so that the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b are movedtowards the upstream A side of the transfer line (see FIGS. 24 and 21).

[0424] In the same way as above, when the downstream dies 333 a, 333 bmove towards the transfer line S, hydraulic pressure is applied to thehydraulic chambers on the rod side of the downstream hydraulic cylinders354 a, 354 b, and the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b are moved towards thedownstream B side of the transfer line (see FIGS. 24 and 21), and whenthe downstream dies 333 a, 333 b move away from the transfer line S,hydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic chambers on the head sideof the downstream hydraulic cylinders 354 a, 354 b, so that thedownstream dies 333 a, 333 b are moved towards the upstream A side ofthe transfer line (see FIGS. 22 and 23).

[0425] Next, the end on the downstream B side of the transfer line ofthe material 1, to be reduced and shaped in the direction of the platethickness, is inserted between the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b from theupstream A side of the transfer line, and the aforementioned material 1to be shaped is moved towards the downstream B side of the transferline, then the first plate reduction sub-method is carried out, in whichthe material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formed in the direction ofthe plate thickness, by means of the upper and lower upstream dies 330a, 330 b that move towards the transfer line S and move in thedownstream B direction of the transfer line.

[0426] At this time, the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b are moving awayfrom the transfer line S and moving in the upstream A direction of thetransfer line.

[0427] As the material 1 to be shaped moves towards the downstream Bside of the transfer line, the first plate reduction sub-method asdescribed above presses the portion of the end near the downstream Bside of the transfer line of the material 1 to be shaped, then the endnear the downstream B side of the transfer line of the material 1 afterbeing shaped by the first plate thickness reduction sub-method, isinserted between the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b, and the material 1 tobe shaped is further reduced and formed in the direction of the platethickness by the upper and lower downstream dies 333 a, 333 b that movetowards the transfer line S and also move in the downstream B directionof the transfer line, and this is defined as a second plate reductionsub-method.

[0428] At this time, because the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b are movingaway from the transfer line S and moving in the upstream A direction ofthe transfer line, the rotational force transmitted from the upper andlower motors to the synchronous drive mechanisms 356 a, 356 b can beutilized efficiently to reduce and form the material 1 to be shaped bythe downstream dies 333 a , 333 b.

[0429] In addition, the inertia forces of the crank shafts 339 a, 339 band the rods 342 a, 342 b of the mechanisms 336 a, 336 b for moving theupstream sliders, the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b, etc. are transmittedto the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b through the synchronous drivemechanisms 356 a, 356 b, the crank shafts 347 a, 347 b and the rods 350a, 350 b of the mechanisms 344 a, 344 b, for moving the downstreamsliders etc., and assist the aforementioned downstream dies 333 a, 333 bto reduce and form the material 1 to be shaped.

[0430] When the second plate reduction sub-method is completed for theportion of the end near the downstream B side of the transfer line ofthe material 1 to be shaped, the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b are in thefarthest position from the transfer line S (see FIG. 21), and as thematerial 1 to be shaped moves in the downstream B direction of thetransfer line, all unreduced portion of the material 1 to be shaped,which is following after the portion already reduced by the first platereduction sub-method, is inserted between the upstream dies 330 a, 330b, so that the material 1 to be shaped is reduced by the first platereduction sub-method as the upper and lower upstream dies 330 a, 330 bmove towards the transfer line S.

[0431] In addition, because the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b are movingaway from the transfer line S (see FIG. 22), the rotational forcestransmitted from the upper and lower motors to the synchronous drivemechanisms 356 a, 356 b can be utilized efficiently to reduce and formthe material 1 to be shaped by the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b.

[0432] Furthermore, the inertia forces of the crank shafts 347 a, 347 band the rods 350 a, 350 b of the mechanisms 344 a, 344 b for moving thedownstream sliders, the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b, etc. aretransmitted to the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b through the synchronousdrive mechanisms 356 a, 356 b, the crank shafts 339 a, 339 b and therods 342 a, 342 b of the mechanisms 330 a, 330 b for moving the upstreamsliders, etc., and assist the above-mentioned upstream dies 330 a, 330 bto press and form the material 1 to be shaped.

[0433] When the first plate reduction sub-method is completed for theportion of the material 1 to be shaped, as described above, thedownstream dies 333 a , 333 b are in the farthest position from thetransfer line S (see FIG. 23), and as the material 1 to be shaped movesin the downstream B direction of the transfer line, the portion of thematerial 1 to be shaped, that has been reduced by the first platereduction sub-method, and is in continuation with a portion which hasalready been reduced by the second plate reduction sub-method, isinserted between the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b, and as the upper andlower downstream dies 333 a, 333 b move towards the transfer line S, thematerial 1 to be shaped is processed by the second plate reductionsub-method, and as soon as it is finished, the upstream dies 330 a, 330b move away from the transfer line S (see FIG. 24).

[0434] With the plate reduction press apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 21through 25, as described above, an unreduced portion of the material tobe shaped is subjected to the first plate reduction sub-method in whichthe portion is reduced and formed in the direction of the platethickness by means of the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b, and then theportion that has been reduced and formed of the material 1 to be shapedis further reduced and formed by the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b in thedirection of the plate thickness, according to the second platereduction sub-method, and so the material 1 to be shaped can beefficiently reduced and formed in the direction of the plate thickness.

[0435] Because the first and second plate reduction sub-methods areoperated alternately on an unreduced portion of the material 1 to beshaped and a portion which has already been reduced by the firstsub-method, respectively, the loads applied to the upstream dies 330 a,330 b and the downstream dies 333 a, 333 b during pressing can bereduced, and therefore the rotational forces of the upper and lowermotors transmitted to the synchronous drive mechanisms 356 a, 356 b canbe used efficiently.

[0436] Consequently, the strengths required for the mechanisms 336 a,336 b, 344 a, and 344 b for moving the sliders composed of variouscomponents and members such as the housing 319, sliders 324 a, 324 b,325 a, and 325 b, die holders 326 a, 326 b, 327 a, and 327 b, shaftboxes 337 a, 337 b, 345 a, and 345 b, crank shafts 339 a, 339 b, 347 a,and 347 b, and rods 342 a, 342 b, 350 a, and 350 b can be reduced, sothat these mechanisms, components and members can be made more compact.

[0437] Moreover, when the upstream dies 330 a, 330 b and the downstreamdies 333 a, 333 b reduce and form the material 1 to be shaped, the diesmove towards the downstream B side of the transfer line, so the movementof the material in a backward direction towards the upstream A side ofthe transfer line, when the material 1 to be shaped is reduced andformed, can be avoided.

[0438] The plate reduction press apparatus and sub-methods according tothe present invention are not limited only to the embodiments describedabove, but for example, the hydraulic cylinders can be replaced byexpanding actuators such as screw jacks, for the die moving mechanisms;all the crank shafts can be rotated by a single motor; each crank shaftcan be rotated by an individual motor; the number of rods that transmitthe displacements of the eccentric portions of the crank shafts to thesliders can be changed; or any other modifications can be incorporatedunless they deviate from the claims of the present invention.

[0439] As described above, the plate reduction press apparatus andsub-methods of the present invention provide the following variousadvantages.

[0440] (1) According to the plate reduction pressing sub-method of thepresent invention, an unreduced portion of the material to be shaped isreduced and formed by the first plate reduction sub-method in which theupper and lower upstream dies reduce the material in the direction ofthe plate thickness, and then the portion of the material to be shaped,after being reduced and formed by the first sub-method, is furtherreduced and formed by the upper and lower downstream dies in thedirection of the plate thickness, by the second plate reductionsub-method, therefore the material to be shaped can be reduced andformed efficiently in the direction of the plate thickness.

[0441] (2) According to the plate reduction pressing methods of thepresent invention, the first and second plate reduction sub-methods arecarried out alternately on an unreduced portion of the material to beshaped and a portion of the material to be shaped, that has been reducedby the first sub-method, consequently the loads to be applied to theupstream and downstream dies during pressing can be reduced.

[0442] (3) With any of the plate reduction press apparatus of thepresent invention as discussed above, the mechanisms for moving theupstream sliders move the upstream dies together with the upstreamsliders towards the transfer line, and an unreduced portion of thematerial to be shaped is reduced by the upper and lower upstream dies inthe direction of the plate thickness, and then the mechanism for movingthe downstream sliders move the downstream dies together with thedownstream sliders towards the transfer line, and the portion of thematerial to be shaped, already reduced by the upstream dies, is furtherreduced by the upper and lower downstream dies in the direction of theplate thickness, so that the material to be shaped can be reduced andformed efficiently in the direction of the plate thickness.

[0443] (4) In any of the plate reduction press apparatus of the presentinvention discussed above, the upstream dies are moved towards and awayfrom the transfer line by the mechanisms for moving the upstream slidersin the reverse phase to the phase that the downstream dies are movedtowards and away from the transfer line by the mechanisms for moving thedownstream sliders, therefore the loads applied to the upstream anddownstream dies during pressing are reduced, so the strengths requiredfor the various components and members constituting the sliders on whichthe dies are mounted and the mechanisms for moving the sliders, can bereduced and they can be made more compact.

[0444] (Eighth Embodiment)

[0445]FIGS. 26 through 29 show an embodiment of the plate reductionpress apparatus according to the present invention, and the item numbersin the figures identify components in the same way as in FIG. 3.

[0446] Item number 417 indicates a flying sizing press apparatus, whichis configured in the same way as that shown in FIG. 3.

[0447] An upstream roller table 418 is arranged on the upstream A sideof dies 412 a, 412 b on the transfer line, and a downstream roller table419 is arranged on the downstream B side of the transfer line.

[0448] The upstream roller table 418 is provided with a fixed frame 420that is parallel to the material 1 to be shaped in the lateral directionat a predetermined distance below the transfer line S and extendingsubstantially horizontal along the transfer line S, and a plurality oftable rollers 421 arranged on the fixed frame 420 at predeterminedintervals so that the rollers can support the lower surface of thematerial 1 to be shaped, which is to be inserted between the dies 412 a,412 b, substantially horizontally, and that are supported by the fixedframe 420 in a freely rotatable manner.

[0449] The downstream roller table 419 is composed of a fixed frame 422installed parallel to the material 1 to be shaped in the lateraldirection at a predetermined distance below the transfer line S, andextending along the transfer line S substantially horizontally, and aplurality of table rollers 423 arranged on the aforementioned fixedframe 422 at predetermined intervals in a freely rotatable manner, sothat the rollers can support the lower surface of the material 1 beingshaped and fed out from the dies 412 a, 412 b of the flying sizing pressapparatus 417.

[0450] On the upstream A side of the transfer line in the close vicinityof the dies 412 a, 412 b of the flying sizing press apparatus 417, apair of upstream side guides 424 are installed, that face the material 1to be shaped in the lateral direction of the transfer line S above thetable rollers 421 of the upstream roller table 418, and that are capableof being moved towards or away from the transfer line S, and on thedownstream B side of the transfer line in the close vicinity of theabove-mentioned dies 412 a, 412 b, a pair of downstream side guides 425are installed, that face the material 1 to be shaped in the lateraldirection of the transfer line S above the table rollers 423 of thedownstream roller table and that can be moved towards and away from thetransfer line S.

[0451] As shown in FIGS. 27 through 28 the upstream side guides 424 andthe downstream side guides 425 are provided with a plurality of guideframes 426 arranged on the floor further from the transfer line than thefixed frames 420, 422 of the upstream and downstream roller tables 418,419, at predetermined intervals along the transfer line S and extendinghorizontally in a direction orthogonal to the transfer line S, aplurality of brackets 427 supported by the aforementioned guide frames426 in a manner such that they are free to move in the directionorthogonal to the transfer line S, and a pair of main side guide units428 a, 428 b installed on and fixed to the tip portions of each of thebrackets 427 and extending in the direction parallel to the transferline S.

[0452] The main side guide units 428 a of the upstream side guides 424are forced, as shown in FIG. 27, in such a manner that the ends in theupstream A direction of the transfer line become gradually wider towardsthe upstream side of the transfer line S, and the main side guide units428 of the downstream side guides 425 are formed, as shown in FIG. 27,in such a manner that the ends in the downstream B direction of thetransfer line become gradually wider towards the downstream side of thetransfer line S.

[0453] Furthermore, the upstream and downstream side guides 424, 425 areprovided with hydraulic cylinders 431 whose bases are supported by thebrackets 429 at the ends of the guide frames 426 farthest from thetransfer line, and the tips of the rods of which are connected topredetermined locations on the main side guide units 428 a, 428 bthrough pins 430; by applying hydraulic pressure to the hydraulicchambers on the head or rod side, the left and right main side guideunits 428 a, 428 b can be moved towards or away from the transfer line Sin synchronism with each other.

[0454] Moreover, the upstream side guides 424 are composed of aplurality of upstream vertical rollers 432 supported by the left andright main side guide units 428 at predetermined intervals throughbearings so that the vertical rollers 432 can contact the lateral edgesof the material 1 to be shaped, when the material passes between theupstream side guides 424, and the downstream side guides 425 arecomposed of a plurality of downstream vertical rollers 433 supported bythe left and right main side guide units 428 b at predeterminedintervals through bearings in such a manner that the vertical rollers433 can contact the lateral edges of the material 1 to be shaped, whenthe material passes between the aforementioned downstream side guides425.

[0455] Item numbers 434 denote pinch rolls which are arranged on theupstream A and downstream B sides of the transfer line in the closevicinity of the flying sizing press apparatus 417.

[0456] The operation of the plate reduction press apparatus shown inFIGS. 26 to 29 is described as follows.

[0457] When a long material 1 to be shaped is inserted between the upperand lower dies 412 a, 412 b of the flying sizing press apparatus 417 andthe material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formed in the direction ofthe plate thickness by the dies 412 a, 412 b, appropriate hydraulicpressures are applied to the hydraulic chambers on the rod and headsides of the hydraulic cylinders 431 of the upstream and downstream sideguides 424, 425, to make the upstream and downstream side guides 424,425 move towards or away from the transfer line S, thereby the gapsbetween the left and right main side guide units 428 a, 428 b of theupstream and downstream side guides 424, 425 are adjusted topredetermined amounts (for example, about +10 mm) from the edges of thematerial 1 to be shaped.

[0458] In addition, by rotating the position adjusting screw 416appropriately, the gap between the upper and lower dies 412 a, 412 b isset according to the plate thickness of the material 1 to be reduced andformed in the direction of the plate thickness.

[0459] Next, motors rotate the upper and lower rotating shafts 407 a,407 b, and simultaneously the material 1 to be reduced and shaped issupplied from the upstream side of the transfer line S onto the upstreamroller table 418.

[0460] When the material 1 to be shaped is moving from the upstream sideto the downstream side of the transfer line S on the upstream rollertable 418, the lateral edges of the material are guided by the main sideguide units 428 a of the upstream side guides 424 and the upstreamvertical rollers 432 near the upstream side of the flying sizing pressapparatus 417 and made to move along the transfer line S, in such a waythat the lateral center line of the material is guided into alignmentwith the lateral center line of the upper and lower dies 412 a, 412 b ofthe flying sizing press apparatus 417.

[0461] Thus, while the material 1 to be shaped is moving from theupstream A side to the downstream B side of the transfer line S alongthe line S, the material is reduced and formed in the direction of theplate thickness by the upper and lower dies 412 a, 412 b that movetowards and away from the transfer line S according to the displacementof the eccentric portions of the rotating shafts 407 a, 407 b.

[0462] During this time, the angles of the die holders 411 a, 411 b areadjusted by applying hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic chambers on therod and head sides of the hydraulic cylinders 413 a, 413 b, in such amanner that the forming surfaces 415 a, 415 b of the upper and lowerdies 412 a, 412 b, near the downstream B side of the transfer line,remain parallel to the transfer line S at all times.

[0463] When the material 1 to be shaped is reduced and formed by thedies 412 a, 412 b of the flying sizing press apparatus 417 andtransferred in the downstream direction of the transfer line S, lateraldeflections of the material are restrained by the main side guide units428 b of the downstream side guides 425 and the downstream verticalrollers 433, in the vicinity of the flying sizing press apparatus 417 onthe downstream side of the transfer line, and the lateral edges of thematerial are thereby guided and transferred along the transfer line S.

[0464] As described above, the plate reduction press apparatus shown inFIGS. 26 to 29 is provided with the upstream side guides 424 equippedwith a pair of main side guide units 428 a which support the upstreamvertical rollers 432 through bearings, in the close vicinity of the dies412 a, 412 b on the upstream A side of the transfer line, therefore thematerial 1 to be reduced and shaped in the direction of the platethickness by the ripper and lower dies 412 a, 412 b can be moved alongthe transfer line S, and also can be guided so as to align the lateralcenter line of the material with the lateral center line of the upperand lower dies 412 a, 412 b of the flying sizing press apparatus 417,and consequently, the lateral edges of the material 1 to be shaped canbe prevented from being abraded by the main side guide units 428 a.

[0465] In addition, downstream side guides 425 are provided, equippedwith a pair of main side guide units 328 b that support the downstreamvertical rollers 433 through bearings, in the close vicinity of the dies412 a, 412 b on the downstream side of the transfer line, thereforelateral deflections of the material 1 after being reduced by the upperand lower dies 412 a, 412 b in the direction of plate thickness can beprevented, and the lateral edges of the material 1 being shaped can beprotected from being abraded by the main side guide units 428 b.

[0466] As described above, the plate reduction press apparatus accordingto the present invention provides the following various advantages.

[0467] (1) In any of the plate reduction press apparatus specified inclaims 21 or 22 of the present invention, a long material to be shapedcan be reduced and, formed continuously in the direction of the platethickness because the material to be reduced and formed is guided intothe upper and lower dies by the upstream side guides when the materialis moving from the upstream to the downstream sides of the transferline, and after the material has been reduced and formed by the dies andfed out to the downstream side of the transfer line, lateral deflectionsof the material are prevented by the downstream side guides.

[0468] (2) With the plate reduction press apparatus specified in claim22 of the present invention, the lateral edges of the material to beshaped, when being introduced into the dies by the upstream side guides,are guided by the upstream vertical rollers, thereby protecting thelateral edges of the material from abrasion with the main side guideunits of the upstream side guides, and the lateral edges of the materialbeing shaped are prevented from being deflected laterally by thedownstream side guides, and are guided by the downstream verticalrollers, in such a manner that abrasion of the lateral edges of thematerial from the main side guide units of the downstream side guidescan be prevented.

[0469] (Ninth Embodiment)

[0470]FIG. 30 shows the configuration of a rolling mill operatingtogether with the plate reduction press apparatus according to thepresent invention. In this figure, a looper device 506 is provideddownstream of the plate reduction press apparatus 510 of the presentinvention, and a finishing rolling mill 505 is installed furtherdownstream. The looper device 506 holds up a material being pressed in aslack loop, and the slack absorbs any differences in the line speeds ofthe plate reduction press apparatus 510 and the finish rolling mill 505.

[0471]FIG. 31 is a side view of the plate reduction press apparatusshown in FIG. 30, and FIG. 32 is a sectional view along the line A-A inFIG. 31. As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the plate reduction pressapparatus 510 according to the present invention is provided with upperand lower drive shafts 512 arranged opposite each other above and belowa material 1 to be pressed and made to rotate, upper and lower pressingframes 514 one end of each of which (right end in FIG. 31) engages withone of the drive shafts 512 in a freely slidable manner, and the otherends 514 b (left end in the figure) of which are connected together in afreely rotatable manner, a horizontal guide device 516 that supports theconnection portions 514 c of the pressing frames 514 so that they canmove in the horizontal direction, and upper and lower dies 518 mountedat one end of the upper and lower pressing frames 514 opposite thematerial to be pressed. In FIG. 31, 511 indicates the main frame of theunit.

[0472] The upper and lower drive shafts 512 are provided with eccentricshafts 512 a at both ends in the lateral direction which have differentphase angles. In addition, spherical seats 515 are provided at theplaces where the eccentric shafts 512 a engage with the press frames514, and the press frames 514 can roll about the axis X of the driveshafts as shown by the arrows A. The contacting surfaces between thedies 518 and the material 1 to be pressed are circular arcs and areconvex towards the material to be pressed, and can smoothly press thematerial when the press frames roll.

[0473] As shown in FIG. 32, there are driving devices 520 that drive androtate the drive shafts 512. These driving- devices 520 are controlledby a speed controller 522, and the rotational speed of the drivingdevices 520 can be freely controlled. In this embodiment, heightadjusting plates 524 are sandwiched between the dies 518 and the pressframes 514, and by changing the thickness of the height adjusting plates524, the heights of the dies 518 are adjusted.

[0474]FIG. 33 schematically shows the paths in which the dies move; (A)shows the general movement of the dies 518 and the press frames 514, and(B) shows the movement of the dies 518 only. FIG. 34 shows thedisplacements of the dies 518 in the up and down direction with respectto the angle of rotation θ of the drive shafts. As shown in FIGS. 33 and34, when each drive shaft 512 rotates, the corresponding eccentricshafts 512 a rotate in circles with a diameter equal to twice theeccentricity e of the shaft, which cause the up and down press frames514 to move in such a manner that while the left end portion 514 b ismoving backwards and forwards in the direction of the line, the rightend portion 514 a (in FIG. 31) moves up and down. Consequently, as shownin FIG. 33, each of the upper and lower dies 518 move in a circular pathwith a diameter equal to twice the eccentricity e of the eccentricshafts 512 a, and at the same time, the dies open and close and alsoroll in the lateral direction. Therefore, as the upper and lower dies518 move in the direction of the line while closing, the material 1 tobe pressed can be conveyed while it is being reduced. In addition,because the upper and lower dies 518 close with a rolling action, theloads during pressing can be reduced. The amount of the reduction isdetermined by the eccentricity e of the eccentric shafts 512 a,therefore high-reduction pressing can be carried out without beingrestricted by a nip angle etc. Also because the material 1 to be pressedis transferred while being reduced, a flying press operation can beachieved.

[0475] As shown in FIG. 33(B), the dies 518 are mounted at a small angleto the press frames 514 when the dies are open (shown by the solid linesin the figure) so that the parallel portions 518 become parallel to eachother during pressing (shown by the double dotted chain lines in thefigure). At this time, the area pressed during a cycle is shown by thehatched area in the figure.

[0476] As shown in FIG. 34, the pair of eccentric shafts 512 apositioned at the two ends in the lateral direction are shifted in phaserelative to each other, and so the ranges in which the two ends pressthe material 1 to be pressed are different from each other, and becausethe upper and lower dies 518 close with a rolling action, the loadsduring pressing can be reduced.

[0477] In addition, the speed controller 522 of the driving devices 520determines the rotational speed of the drive shafts 512 so that when thedies 518 press, the speed of the dies in the line directionsubstantially match the feeding speed of the material 1 to be pressed.In this configuration, it is possible to match the speed of the dies 518in the line direction substantially with the feeding speed of thematerial 1 to be pressed, therefore loads on the driving devices 520that drive and rotate the drive shafts 512 can be reduced.

[0478] In this way, the plate reduction press apparatus according to thepresent invention provides various advantages such as (1) flying pressoperation is enabled, in which a material to be pressed is reduced whilebeing transferred, (2) the number of component parts is small, and theconstruction is simple, (3) a small number of components need to slideunder load during pressing, (4) high-load and high-cycle operations arepossible, (5) the thickness of a material to be pressed can be correctedby adjusting the position of the dies using a simple method, and soforth.

[0479] (Tenth Embodiment)

[0480]FIG. 35 shows the configuration of a rolling facility usedtogether with the plate reduction press apparatus according to thepresent invention. In this figure, a looper device 606 is installed onthe downstream side of the hot slab press apparatus 610 according to thepresent invention, and further downstream, a finishing rolling mill 605is provided. The looper device 606 holds up a material being pressed ina slack loop, so that the slack length of the material, smooths out anydifferences between the line speeds of the hot slab press apparatus 610and the finishing rolling mill 605.

[0481]FIG. 36 is a side view of the hot slab press apparatus shown inFIG. 35, and FIG. 37 is a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 36.As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the hot slab press apparatus 610 accordingto the present invention is composed of upper and lower crank shafts 612arranged opposite each other above and below the material 1 to bepressed and made to rotate, upper and lower press frames 614 one end 614a (right end in the figure) of each of which is engaged with one of thecrank shafts 612 in a freely slidable manner, and the other ends 614 b(left end) are connected together in a freely rotatable manner, ahorizontal guide device 616 for supporting the connecting portion 614 cof the press frames 614 so that they can move horizontally, and upperand lower dies 618 mounted at one end of each of the upper and lowerpress frames 614 facing the material 1 to be pressed. In this figure,611 is the main frame unit.

[0482] As shown in FIG. 37, driving devices 620 are provided to driveand rotate the crank shafts 612, and the driving devices 620 arecontrolled by a speed controller 622, so that the rotational speed ofthe driving devices 620 can be freely controlled.

[0483] With this embodiment, height adjusting plates 624 arc placedbetween the dies 618 and the press frames 614, and by changing thethicknesses of the height adjusting plates 624, the heights of the dies618 are adjusted.

[0484]FIG. 38 schematically shows the paths in which the dies move; (A)shows the general movement of the dies 618 and the press frames 614, and(B) shows the movements of the dies 618 only. As shown in FIG. 38, whenthe crank shafts 612 rotate, each of the crank shafts 612 rotates in acircle with a diameter equal to twice the eccentricity e of the shaft,and following this motion, the upper and lower press frames 614 move insuch a manner that while the left end portion 614 b moves backwards andforwards in the direction of the line, the right end portions 614 a (inFIG. 36) move up and down. Therefore, as shown in this figure, each ofthe upper and lower dies 618 moves in a circular path with a diameterequal to twice the eccentricity e of one of the crank shafts 612, and asthe upper and lower dies 618 move in the line direction while closing,the material 1 to be pressed can be transferred while it is beingpressed. The amount of the reduction depends on the eccentricity e ofthe crank shafts 612, and a high-reduction pressing operation can beachieved without being restricted by a nip angle etc. In addition, aflying press system can be realized because the material 1 to be pressedis conveyed while being reduced.

[0485] As shown in FIG. 38(B), the dies 618 are mounted on the pressframes 614 at a small angle thereto when the dies are open (solid linesin the figure) so that the parallel portions 618 a are parallel to eachother during pressing (double-dotted chain lines in the figure). Forthis configuration the area pressed during a cycle is shown by thehatched area in the figure.

[0486] In addition, the speed controller 622 of the drive devices 620determines the rotational speed of the crank shafts 612 to make thespeed of the dies 618 in the line direction during pressingsubstantially agree with the feeding speed of the material 1 to bepressed. In this configuration, the speed of the dies 618 in thedirection of the line can be made to be substantially identical to thefeeding speed of the material 1 to be pressed, so variations in theloads on the crank shafts, caused by a difference in speeds, can bereduced.

[0487]FIG. 39 is a diagram showing how a hot slab is pressed accordingto the present invention. In this figure, the abscissa and the ordinateindicate the crank angle and the speed in the line direction,respectively. According to the method of the present invention, thespeed for feeding a material to be pressed is variable and made equal tothe maximum speed of the dies in the line direction. More preferably,the speed of feeding the material to be pressed should be varied in sucha manner that the speed is greater than the above-mentioned maximumspeed at the beginning of pressing, and then be made smaller at anintermediate time during pressing. Accordingly, the loads applied to thepress crank shafts, produced by variations in the inertia forces andspeeds of the material to be pressed, can be reduced.

[0488] As can be understood from the above description, the hot slabpress apparatus and pressing methods according to the present inventionpresent excellent practical advantages including (1) a flying pressingsystem can be established to press a material while it is beingconveyed, (2) there are few component parts and the construction issimple, (3) there are few parts which slide under load during pressing,(4) the system can be operated at high loads with fast operating cycles,(5) the position of the dies can be adjusted using a simple method, andthe thickness of the material to be pressed can be corrected, and so on.

[0489] (Eleventh Embodiment)

[0490]FIG. 40 shows the configuration of a rolling facility usedtogether with the plate reduction press apparatus according to thepresent invention. In this figure, a looper device 706 is installed onthe downstream side of the plate reduction press apparatus 710 accordingto the present invention, and further downstream, a finishing rollingmill 706 is provided. The looper device 706 holds up a material beingpressed in a slack loop, so that the slack portion of the materialsmooths out any differences in the line speeds of the plate reductionpress apparatus 710 and the finish rolling mill 705.

[0491]FIG. 41 is a side view of the plate reduction press apparatusshown in FIG. 40, and FIG. 42 is a sectional view along the line A-A inFIG. 41. As shown in FIGS. 41 and 42, the plate reduction pressapparatus 710 according to the present invention is provided with upperand lower eccentric drive shafts 715 arranged opposite each other aboveand below a material 1 to be pressed and driven and rotated by drivingdevices 720 b, upper and lower synchronous eccentric shafts 713 whichare rotated by the eccentric drive shafts 715, upper and lower pressframes 714 one end 714 a of each of which is engaged with one of thesynchronous eccentric shafts 713 in a freely slidable manner, and theother ends 714 b are connected together in a freely rotatable manner,and upper and lower dies 718 mounted opposite each other at one end ofeach of the upper and lower press frames 714. In this figure, 711indicates the main frame unit.

[0492] Referring to FIG. 42, the upper and lower dies 718 are opened andclosed by rotating the upper and lower eccentric drive shafts 715, andwhen the dies 718 are pressing, the speed of the press frames 714 in thedirection of the line is synchronized with the speed at which thematerial to be pressed is being conveyed in the line direction by meansof the synchronous eccentric shafts 713, while pressing the material.

[0493] The outer peripheries of the synchronous eccentric shafts 713,are equipped with gear teeth, and the shafts are driven and rotated bythe driving devices 720 a by the small gear wheels 712 a mounted on thedrive shafts 712. As shown in FIG. 42, each shaft can be connected tothe driving devices 720 a, 720 b, through universal joints etc., or,although not illustrated, each shaft may also be driven by adifferential device.

[0494] Also with this embodiment, height adjusting plates 724 arepositioned between the dies 718 and the press frames 714, so by varyingthe thicknesses of the height adjusting plates 724, the heights of thedies 718 can be adjusted.

[0495]FIG. 43 schematically shows the paths in which the dies move; (A)shows the general movement of the dies 718 and the press frames 714, and(B) shows the movements of the dies 718 only. FIG. 44 shows thedisplacements of the dies 718 in the up and down direction with respectto the rotational angle θ of the synchronous eccentric shafts. As shownin FIGS. 43 and 44, when the drive shafts 712 are rotated, the upper andlower synchronous eccentric shafts 713 rotate around the eccentric driveshafts 715, therefore the synchronous eccentric shafts 715 move in acircle with a diameter equal to twice the eccentricity e thereof, andthe outer peripheries thereof cause the upper and lower press frames 714to move in such a manner that the left end 714 b moves backwards andforwards in the line direction, while the right end 714 a (in FIG. 41)move up and down. Consequently as shown in FIG. 43(B), each of the upperand lower dies 718 moves in a circular path with a diameter equal totwice the eccentricity e of the synchronous eccentric shafts 712 a,while opening and closing.

[0496] Also as shown in FIG. 44, which shows the relation in speed thatresults from combining the eccentricity E of the eccentric drive shafts715 and the eccentricity e of the synchronous eccentric shafts 713, anda pseudo constant speed can be produced over a range by varying thespeed pattern. The amount of the reduction at that time depends on theeccentricity e of the synchronous eccentric shafts 713, so ahigh-reduction operation can be carried out without being restricted bya nip angle etc. Furthermore, because the material 1 to be pressed isconveyed by the synchronous drive devices 716 while being reduced, aflying pressing operation can be easily performed.

[0497] In addition, only the synchronous eccentric shafts 713 (doublesynchronous eccentric shafts) that are rotated by the eccentric driveshafts 715 withstand loads during pressing, and the connection portion714 c and the synchronous drive devices 716 have to withstand onlyrather small loads that only cancel moments acting on the press frames714, and in addition, the moments applied to the upper and lower pressframes 714 cancel each other, so the loads on the connection portion andthe driving devices are further reduced. As a result, there are fewcomponent parts, the construction is simple, there are few portions thatslide under load during pressing, and the system can operate under highloads at a high operating rate.

[0498] As shown in FIG. 43(B), the dies 718 are mounted on the pressframes 714 at a slight angle thereto when the dies are open (solid linesin the figure) so that during pressing (double-dotted chain lines in thefigure), the parallel portions 718 a are parallel to each other. At thistime, the area pressed during one cycle is shown by the hatched area inthe figure.

[0499] Obviously from the description above, the plate reduction pressapparatus according to the present invention provides excellentadvantages including (1) a material to be pressed can be pressed by aflying press operation, in which the material is reduced while it isbeing transferred, (2) there are few component parts and theconstruction is simple, (3) a small number of parts slide under loadduring pressing, and (4) the system can be operated at high loads at ahigh operating rate.

[0500] (Twelfth Embodiment)

[0501]FIG. 45 shows the configuration of the plate reduction pressapparatus according to the twelfth embodiment of the invention, and FIG.46 is a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 45. Upper and lowerdies 802 are provided above and below a material 1 to be pressed.Cooling water is supplied to the inside of the dies 802, to cool thedies. Otherwise, cooling water can also be sprayed from outside. Thedies 802 are mounted on sliders 803 through die holders 804, in adetachable manner. Two crank shafts 805 engage in a freely slidablemanner with the sliders 803 in the lateral direction of the material 1to be pressed, arranged in a row in the direction (forward direction) offlow of the material. The crank shafts 805 are composed of eccentricshafts 805 b engaging with the sliders 803, and support shafts 805 aconnected to both ends of the eccentric shafts 805 b in the axialdirection thereof, and one of the ends of the support shafts 805 a isconnected to a driving device not illustrated which drives and rotatesthe crank 805. The support shafts 805 a and the eccentric shafts 805 bare connected so that the center line thereof are offset from eachother, thus the eccentric shafts 805 b are rotated eccentrically aroundthe support shafts 805 a.

[0502] Counterweights 806 are attached at each end of the support shafts805 a of the eccentric shafts 805 b. The counterweights 806 are mountedwith the centers of gravity thereof offset from the center lines of thesupport shafts 805 a, and the angle of the offset is 180° from thedirection of the eccentricity of the eccentric shafts 805 b with respectto the support shafts 805 a. The inertia forces (unbalanced forces) dueto the eccentricity of the counterweights 806 substantially cancel theinertia forces due to the sliders 803, dies 802 and die holders 804, sothat the vibration of the apparatus can be reduced greatly.

[0503] The dies 802, sliders 803, die holders 804, crank shafts 805, andcounterweights 806 are arranged symmetrically above and below thematerial 1 to be pressed, and composed into one body by the main frameunit 808. The eccentric shafts 805 b are connected to the sliders 803 ina freely rotatable manner through the bearings 807, and the supportshafts 805 a are supported through the bearings 807 provided on the mainframe unit 808, in a freely rotatable manner.

[0504] Next, the operation is described. FIG. 47 shows one cycle ofoperation of the sliders 803. FIG. 48 illustrates the movements of thesliders 803 and the material 1 to be pressed, during one operatingcycle. In FIG. 47, in a cycle time increase in the sequencet1-t2-t3-t4-t1, and the material is pressed during the period ta-tbwhich includes t2. In FIG. 48, t1-t4 corresponds to t1-t4 in FIG. 47. Att1, the sliders 803 are raised to an intermediate position, and arelocated at the farthest position in the backward direction. At t2, thestate during pressing is shown, and the sliders are located at anintermediate position in the backward and forward direction. At t3, thesliders are partly raised, and at the farther position in the forwarddirection. Hence, the sliders 803 move forwards during the periodt1-t2-t3 as shown by the arrows, and move at the maximum speed at t2during pressing. Consequently, the material 1 to be pressed istransferred by the pinch rolls 809 when the sliders 803 are pressing,according to the speed of the sliders, thereby the material can beconveyed continuously at a speed most suitable for pressing, even duringa pressing period. Because the counterweights 806 move with phase anglesoffset by 180° from those of the sliders 803, the vibration caused bythe sliders 803 is reduced. In addition, the counterweights alsofunction as flywheels that contribute to a reduction of the powerrequired from the driving devices.

[0505] (Thirteenth Embodiment)

[0506] The thirteenth embodiment is described next. FIG. 49 shows theconfiguration of the plate reduction press apparatus according to thisembodiment, and FIG. 50 is a sectional view along the line Y-Y in FIG.49, showing only the half on one side of the lateral center line of thematerial 1 to be pressed, because the entire construction is symmetricalabout the center line. As shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, this embodiment ofthe plate reduction press apparatus according to the present inventionis composed of upper and lower crank shafts 815 arranged opposite eachother above and below the material 1 to be pressed and driven androtated, upper and lower press frames 813 one end 813 a (right end inthe figure) of each of which is engaged with one of the crank shafts ina freely rotatable manner, and the other ends 813 b (left ends) areconnected together in a freely rotatable manner, horizontal guidedevices 819 that guide the connecting portions 813 c of the press frames813 so that they can move horizontally, upper and lower dies 812 mountedat one end 813 a of each of the upper and lower press frames 813, facingthe material 1 to be pressed, counterweights 816 installed on the crankshafts 815, and a main frame unit 818 that supports the crank shafts815. The dies 812 are mounted on the ends 813 a through the heightadjusting plates 814.

[0507] The horizontal guide device 819 is either a hydraulic cylinder,crank mechanism or a servo motor, that moves the connection portions 813c to which the upper and lower press frames 813 are connected, in thedirection of transfer of the material to be pressed when the crankshafts 815 rotate.

[0508] The crank shafts 815 are shown in FIG. 50, and are comprised ofeccentric shafts 815 b that engage with the ends 813 a of the pressframes 813, and support shafts 815 a attached to both ends of theeccentric shafts 815 b with their axial center lines offset from eachother. The support shafts 815 a are supported by the main frame unit 818through bearings 817, and the eccentric shafts 815 b are connected tothe ends 813 a through the bearings 817. On the support shafts 815 aoutside the main frame unit 818, counterweights 816 are mounted thecenters of gravity of which are offset from the axial center lines ofthe support shafts 815 a, and the angle of the offset is 180° from thedirection of the eccentricity of the eccentric shafts 815 b relative tothe support shafts 815 a. A driving device 820 is provided at the end ofa support shaft 815 a equipped with a counterweight 816, and iscontrolled by a control device 822.

[0509] The operation of the present embodiment is described next. FIG.51 schematically shows the path in which the dies 812 move; (A) showsthe general movements of the dies 812 and the press frames 813, and (B)shows the movements of the dies 812 only. When the crank shafts 815rotate, the upper and lower eccentric shafts 815 b are rotated by thesupport shafts 815 a, and the eccentric shaft 815 b rotates in a circlewith a diameter equal to twice the eccentricity e thereof, and the outerperiphery thereof causes the upper and lower press frames 813 to move insuch a manner that the other ends 813 b reciprocate in the direction ofthe flow of the material to be pressed, while the ends 813 a move up anddown. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 51(B), the upper and lower dies 812move up and down as they travel in a circular path with a diameter equalto twice the eccentricity e of the eccentric shafts 815 b.

[0510] As shown in FIG. 49, the horizontal guide device 819 allows theconnecting portion 813 c of the press frames 813 to move in thedirection of flow of the material to be pressed when the dies 812 arepressing, thus the upper and lower dies 812 can move in the direction ofthe flow of the material to be pressed while the dies are pressing thematerial. At this time, the amount of the reduction depends on theeccentricity e of the eccentric shafts 815 b, therefore high-reductionpressing can be carried out without being limited by a nip angle etc.Because the horizontal guide device 819 allows the material 1 to bepressed to be transferred while being pressed, flying press operationscan be easily carried out. In addition, as the counterweights 816 movewith an angular offset of 180° from the motion of the ends 813 a, theycancel the vibrations due the ends 813 a, which reduces the vibration asa whole. In addition, the counterweights can also function as a flywheelwhich contributes to reducing the power required from the drivingdevices.

[0511] As can be easily understood from the description above, thepresent invention can provide a flying reduction press system in which amaterial to be pressed is reduced while it is being conveyed, bydirectly rotating the ends of sliders or press frames by eccentrics oncrank shafts. Furthermore, as counterweights are provided on the crankshafts, the vibration of the system can be reduced, and because thecounterweights function as flywheels, the power required from thedriving devices can be reduced. Moreover, because the dies can be movedin the direction of now of the material to be pressed during thepressing period, thanks to the eccentric motion of the crank shafts, nomechanisms arc required to move the (lies in the direction of flow ofthe material to be pressed during pressing, so the construction of theapparatus becomes simple.

[0512] (Fourteenth Embodiment)

[0513]FIG. 52 is a sectional view showing a configuration of the platereduction press apparatus of the fourteenth embodiment according to thepresent invention, and FIG. 53 is a sectional view along the line X-X inFIG. 52. Dies 902 are arranged above and below a slab 1. Cooling wateris supplied to the dies 902 to cool the interior of the dies 902.Otherwise, cooling water may also be sprayed on the outside. The dies902 are mounted on sliders 903 through the die holders 904, in adetachable manner. The sliders 903 are composed of main units 905 andcranks 907; on each main unit 905, two circular holes 906 are arrangedin a row in the direction of flow (forward direction) of the slab, inwhich the shafts of the cranks 907 are directed in the lateral directionof the slab. The cranks 907 shown in FIG. 53 are composed of a firstshaft 907 a engaging with the circular hole 906 through a first bearing908 a, and second shafts 907 b attached to both ends of the first shaft907 a, with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first shaft, andthe center lines thereof are made eccentric to each other, and one endof the second shaft 907 b is connected to a driving device that is notillustrated. The second shafts 907 b, in the upper or lower sliders 903,are supported by a common frame 909 through the second bearings 908 b.Pinch rolls 912 are arranged on the downstream side of the dies 902, andcontrol the transfer speed of the slab 1. Table rollers 913 are providedon the inlet or outlet side of the pinch rolls 912, and transfer thematerial to be pressed or being pressed. In FIG. 53, A and B indicatethe axes of the first and second shafts, respectively.

[0514]FIG. 54 is a view showing the construction of the sliders; sinceFIGS. 52 and 53 illustrated the sliders in a slightly schematic way, apractical example is shown in FIG. 54, showing the upper half above theslab 1. The die 902 for pressing the slab 1 is mounted on a main unit905 by means of a die holder 904. The main unit 905 is provided with arow of two circular holes 906 arranged in the direction of transfer ofthe slab 1. A crank 907 is comprised of a first shaft 907 a and secondshafts 907 b attached to both ends of the first shaft, with a diametersmaller than the diameter of the first shaft; the first shaft 907 a isconnected through a first bearing 908 a, and the second shafts aresupported by the second bearings 908 b. The circular hole 906 indicatesthe inner surface of the first bearing 908 a. A and B indicate the axialcenter lines of the first and second shafts, respectively, and bothshafts rotate around the center line B.

[0515] Next, the operation of the fourteenth embodiment is described.FIG. 55 shows one cycle of operation of the slider 903, and FIG. 56shows the speed of the slab during such a cycle. FIG. 57 shows themovements of the slider 903 and the slab 1 during a cycle. In FIG. 55,during the cycle time changes in the sequence t1-t2-t3-t4-t1, and theslab is pressed during the interval ta-tb which includes t2. In FIG. 56,the transfer speed of the slab 1 is controlled by pinch rolls 912.During pressing, the slab 1 is conveyed in synchronism with the forwardspeed of the slider 903, and at other times, the slab 1 is transferredat the normal transfer speed. The normal transfer speed is adjusted suchthat the distance L moved by the slab per cycle is not longer than thepressing length L1 of the dies 902 shown in FIG. 52, and also the speedmust match the speed of a downstream apparatus. Using such a movingdistance L as described above, the length of the slab pressed in theprevious cycle is slightly superimposed by the length pressed in thenext cycle, so pressing is carried out appropriately.

[0516] In FIG. 57, t1-t4 corresponds to t1_t4 in FIGS. 55 and 56. At t1,the slider 903 is raised to an intermediate position, and is located atthe farthest position in the backward direction. At t2, the state duringpressing is shown, in which the slider is located at an intermediateposition in the backward and forward direction. The slider is partlyraised at t3, and located at the farthest position in the forwarddirection. The slider is located at the highest position at t4, but atan intermediate position in the backward and forward direction. Theslider 903 is driven forwards during the period t1-t2-t3 as shown by thearrows, as described above, and the speed thereof becomes a maximum neart2 during pressing. Therefore, the slab 1 can be continuouslytransferred at the most suitable speed for pressing even during thepressing period, by conveying the slab 1 by means of the pinch rolls 912in synchronism with the speed of the slider 903.

[0517] (Fifteenth Embodiment)

[0518] The fifteenth embodiment is described next. With this embodiment,balancers that absorb the unbalanced moments are provided on thesliders. FIG. 58 is a side view of the fifteenth embodiment, showing theupper half of the structure which is symmetrical in the verticaldirection; FIG. 59 is a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 58,and FIG. 60 is a sectional view along the line Y-Y shown in FIG. 58. Asshown in FIG. 58, the slider 903 is composed of a large crank 907 theunbalanced moment of which due to the load, is absorbed by the balancer914 using a crank 917.

[0519] Referring to FIGS. 58 and 59, a die 902 is provided above a slab1, and the die 902 is mounted on a main unit 905 by means of a dieholder 904, in a detachable manner. In the crank 907, a first shaft 907a is connected to two second shafts 907 b at both ends of the firstshaft with the shaft center lines offset. The first shaft 907 a isconnected through first bearings 908 a, and the second shafts 907 b aresupported by the second bearings 908 b provided on the frame 909 shownin FIGS. 52 and 53. A and B indicate the center lines of the first andsecond shafts, respectively. A gear coupling 916 is provided at the endof one of the second shafts 907 b, through which the second shaft 907 bis rotated by a driving device not illustrated.

[0520] The balancer 914 is provided with the crank 917 which iscomprised of a first shaft 917 a and second shafts 917 b attached toboth ends of the first shaft, with a diameter smaller than the diameterof the first shaft 917 a, and the axial center line “a” of the firstshaft is offset from the axial center line B of the second shaft. Thefirst shaft 907 a is connected to the first bearings 908 a which arefixed to an outer ring 919. The second shafts 907 b are supported by thesecond bearings 908 b which are fixed to a support structure 915. Thesupport structure 915 is installed on the main unit 905 using bolts. Atthe end of the other second bearing 907 b, the gear coupling 916 isprovided and driven by a driving device that is not illustrated. “a” and“b” indicate the axial center lines of the first shaft 917 a and thesecond shafts 917 b, respectively.

[0521] Next, the operation of the fifteenth embodiment is described. Theoperation of the slider 903 during the reduction of a slab 1 is same asthat of the first embodiment. However, because a crank 907 is providedon each of the upper and lower sides, an unbalanced moment is producedby the reaction force when the slab 1 is pressed. The balancer 914functions to cancel this unbalanced moment.

[0522] (Sixteenth Embodiment)

[0523] Next, the sixteenth embodiment is described. FIG. 61 is asectional view of the configuration of the plate reduction pressapparatus according to the sixteenth embodiment, and FIG. 62 is asectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 61. The same item numbers asin FIGS. 52 and 53 are used to indicate the same components andfunctions. With the present embodiment, a die 902 and a slider 903 areprovided either above or below a slab, but on the side opposite the die902, a support member 910 is installed, and pressing is carried out fromone side. Reducing operations and backward and forward movements of theslider are carried out in the same way as in the fourteenth embodimentshown in FIG. 57, but the amount of the reduction due to pressing isless. In addition, during the backward and forward movements of the diewhen it presses a slab 1, the transfer of the slab is resisted by afriction force produced between the slab and the support member 910, sothe driving device of the slider 903 and the pinch rolls 912 are moreheavily loaded. However, the construction is simpler and the cost ofmanufacture is reduced.

[0524] Obviously as described above, according to the present invention,the die and the backwards and forwards moving slider are provided, sothat the slab can be transferred while being pressed and a downstreamrolling operation can be carried out continuously. A plurality of cranksare also provided and can maintain the die parallel to the transferline. Alternatively one pressing crank and a balancing crank can also beprovided to maintain the die parallel. The die can also be easily cooledinternally or externally, therefore the life of the die can beprolonged. It is also possible to reduce a slab by more than 50 mmduring one pressing operation. Furthermore, the entire apparatus can bemade compact.

[0525] (Seventeenth Embodiment)

[0526]FIG. 63 shows the configuration of the seventeenth embodimentaccording to the present invention. As shown in this figure, the platereduction press apparatus of the present invention is provided with apair of dies 1002 opposite each other above and below a slab 1, anddevices 1010 for swinging the dies provided for each die 1002, thatdrive the dies backwards and forwards with respect to the slab 1.

[0527] As shown in FIG. 63, the devices 1010 for swinging the dies arecomposed of sliders 1012 each of which is provided with a pair ofcircular holes 1012 a positioned obliquely to the direction of feed ofthe slab with an interval L between each hole, and eccentric shafts 1014rotating inside the circular holes 1012 a.

[0528] Each of the eccentric shafts 1014 is comprised of a first shaft1014 a that rotates in the circular hole 1012 a around the center line Aof the circular hole, and a second shaft 1014 b driven and rotatedaround a center line B offset from the first center line 1014 a by theeccentricity e. The second shaft 1014 b is supported by bearings notillustrated, and is driven and rotated by a driving device also notillustrated.

[0529] Cooling water is supplied to the dies 1002 to cool the dies 1002.Cooling water can also be sprayed from the outside of the dies. The dies1002 are mounted detachably on the sliders 1012 through the die holders1011. Pinch rolls 1016 are installed downstream of the dies 1002 andcontrol the transfer speed of the slab 1, table rollers 107 are providedat the inlet or outlet side of the pinch rolls 1016 and transfer thematerial to be pressed. In FIG. 63, A and B indicate the axial centerlines of the first and second shafts, respectively.

[0530] (Eighteenth Embodiment)

[0531]FIG. 64 shows the configuration of the eighteenth embodimentaccording, to the present invention. In this figure, a pair of circularholes 1012 a in the sliders 1012 are positioned perpendicular to thetransfer direction of a slab, and a pair of eccentric shafts 1014 arealso located perpendicular to the direction of feed of the slab. Theother details of the configuration are the same as those in FIG. 63.

[0532] Next, the operation is described. FIG. 65 shows one cycle ofoperation of the sliders 1012, and FIG. 66 shows the slab speed duringthe cycle. In FIG. 65, time during the cycle changes in the sequencet1-t2-t3-t4-t1, and the slab is pressed within the period ta-tb whichincludes t2. In FIG. 66, the transfer speed of the slab 1 is controlledby the pinch rolls 1016. The speed is synchronized with the speed atwhich the slab 1 is fed by the dies 1002 during the pressing time(reducing time) in which the dies 1002 press the slab 1, and during theperiod in which there is no pressing and the slab 1 is not in contactwith the dies 1002, the slab is conveyed at a constant speed so that aspecified cycle speed is achieved. In other words, the slab 1 istransferred in synchronism with the forward speed of the sliders 1012during pressing, and otherwise a normal conveying speed is used. Thenormal speed is selected such that the distance in which the slab ismoved per cycle is not longer than the pressing length of the dies 1002,and so that the speed is also suitable for a downstream system. Themoving distance selected as above results in the length being pressed inthe present cycle, being slightly superimposed on the length pressed inthe previous cycle so that the reduction is performed properly.

[0533] At t1 shown in FIGS. 65 and 66, the sliders 1012 are raised to anintermediate position and are located in the farthest position in thebackward direction. At t2, the sliders are in the pressing position andare located at an intermediate position in the backward and forwarddirection. The sliders are partially raised at t3, and located at thefarthest position in the forward direction. At t4, the sliders arelocated at the highest point, and are in an intermediate position in thebackward and forward direction. The sliders 1012 are advanced as shownby the arrows during the period t1-t2-t3, and the speed thereof becomesa maximum near t2 during pressing. Consequently, by conveying the slab 1with the pinch rolls 1016 in synchronism with the speed of the sliders1012 during pressing, the slab can be transferred continuously at themost suitable speed for reducing, even during pressing.

[0534] According to the configurations of the present invention asdescribed above, the two eccentric shafts 1014 rotating in a pair ofcircular holes 1012 a in the sliders 1012 are positioned at an inclinedangle or perpendicular to the direction of feed of the slab, so therequired length of the apparatus in the direction of the line can bereduced from the case where the eccentric shafts are installed on thesame level parallel to the direction of the line. In particular, whenthe eccentric shafts on one side of the transfer line are installed atdifferent distances from the line, the forces acting on the twoeccentric shafts during pressing can be made identical to each other, sothat the length of the apparatus in the direction of the line can bereduced while at the same time achieving uniform loading of eacheccentric shaft. When the two eccentric shafts on one side of the slabfeeding direction are arranged vertically to the direction as shown inFIG. 64, the load applied to the lower eccentric shaft can be madegreater, therefore the upper eccentric shaft can be made compact.

[0535] Obviously from the description above, the present inventionprovides dies and sliders that press the dies and move them backwardsand forwards, with which a slab can be conveyed while being pressed,hence a downstream rolling operation can be carried out continuously. Inaddition, the necessary length of the press apparatus in the directionof the line can be reduced, and while transferring the slab, the platethickness of the slab can be reduced with a high reduction ratio.

[0536] (Nineteenth Embodiment)

[0537]FIG. 67 is a view showing the configuration of the plate reductionpress apparatus according to the nineteenth embodiment. The pressmachine is provided with upper and lower dies 1102 above and below amaterial to be pressed 1, hydraulic cylinders 1103 that press the dies1102, and frames 1104 supporting the hydraulic cylinders 1103. Assumingthe thickness of the material 1 to be pressed is T, that is, T isreduced to a thickness t. The longitudinal length of the dies 1102 isindicated by L which is shorter than the width of the material 1 to bepressed. The hydraulic cylinders 1103 arc composed of rods 1103 aconnected to the dies 1102, pistons 1103 b pushing the rods 1103 a, andcylinders 1103 c that house the rods 1103 a and the pistons 1103 b. Inaddition, a device for supplying a hydraulic fluid under pressure to thehydraulic cylinders is also provided, although not illustrated. Thepresent embodiment relates to a case in which two pairs of the dies 1102are provided above and below the material to be pressed, in which thetwo pairs of the dies 1102 are arranged at intervals of 2L in thelongitudinal direction.

[0538] The operation is described below.

[0539]FIG. 68 shows the configuration in which the two pairs of dies1102 are pressed simultaneously. (A) shows the state when pressingbegins in the present step of the process after the material has beenreduced in a previous step of the process. (B) shows the state in whichthe material has been pressed from the state shown in (A). In (C), thedies 1102 are ready to reduce the material 1 to be pressed, after thedies 1102 have been separated from each other from the state shown in(B), and the material was moved a distance 2L in the longitudinaldirection. In (C) the state has returned to the state of (A). Thus byrepeating steps (A) through (C), the thickness T can be reduced to t. Astwo pairs of dies 1102 press simultaneously, high-speed pressing can becarried.

[0540]FIG. 69 shows the case in which the pressing operations of the twopairs, of dies 1102 are shifted in time. (A) shows the state whenpressing begins in the present step of the process after the materialhas been reduced in a previous step of the process. (B−1) shows thestatus when the material 1 to be pressed has been pressed by thedownstream dies 1102 from the state of (A). (B−2) shows the conditionafter the material has been pressed by the upstream dies from the stateof (B−1). (C) is a sectional view of the material 1 to be pressed afterthe dies 1102 have been opened from the state of (B−2) and the materialhas been moved a distance 2L longitudinally, and the two pairs of dies1102 are ready to press. The state in (C) has returned to the state (A).Thus by repeating the steps (A) through (C), the thickness T can bereduced to t. In this way, the power required to press the dies 1102becomes only one half of the power required to drive all the dies duringpressing as shown in FIG. 68, accordingly the capacity of the drivingdevices can also be halved together with a reduction in the cost.

[0541] (Twentieth Embodiment)

[0542] The twentieth embodiment is described below. FIG. 70 shows theconfiguration of the plate reduction press apparatus of the twentiethembodiment, and FIG. 71 shows its operation. According to the presentembodiment, three pairs of dies 1102 are arranged in the direction ofmovement of the material 1 to be pressed at intervals of 3L where L isthe length of a die 1102, and the other details are the same as those ofthe previous embodiment shown in FIG. 67. FIG. 71 shows the operationswhen the three pairs of dies 1102 press simultaneously. FIG. 71(A) showsthe state when pressing is just beginning in the present step of theprocess after the material has been pressed in a previous step of theprocess. (B) shows the condition of the material after it has beenpressed from the state shown in (A). (C) shows a view of the material 1after it has been pressed by the dies 1102 after the dies 1102 have beenseparated from each other from the state shown in (B) and after thematerial has been moved a distance 3L longitudinally. (C) has returnedto the state of (A). By repeating steps (A) through (C), the thickness Tcan be reduced to t. Because three pairs of dies 1102 presssimultaneously, high-speed pressing can be carried out. When three pairsof dies 1102 press sequentially, the process shown in (B) is dividedinto sub-processes, the upstream dies 1102 press first, the middle dies1102 press next, and then the downstream dies 1102 press. Although thismethod requires a long pressing time, the power to drive the dies can beas low as the power for a single pair of dies, so the cost is reduced.

[0543] The above explanation of the embodiment is related to two andthree pairs of dies, however N pairs of dies can also be introduced intoa press machine.

[0544] It can easily be understood from the above description, thatbecause a plurality of short dies are arranged in tandem according tothe present invention, the masses of the dies and the driving devicescan be reduced to permit high-speed reduction and large-reductionpressing can be carried out. In addition, the material to be pressed canbe conveyed smoothly in the longitudinal direction, resulting inreducing the power required for driving the dies. When a plurality ofdies are operated sequentially, the power required for driving the diescan be greatly reduced.

[0545] (Twenty-First Embodiment)

[0546]FIG. 72 shows a configuration of the plate reduction pressapparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 72, the platereduction press apparatus is provided with N press machines 1212installed in a housing 1211. The following description assumes N=4,which is not a necessary condition. The press machines 1212 are composedof pairs of upper and lower machines above and below a material 1 to bepressed, and four pairs are arranged in tandem in the direction of flowof the material 1 to be pressed. A press machine 1212 is comprised ofdies 1213 and pressing devices 1214 that press the dies. Although thepressing devices 1214 are shown in an example in which hydrauliccylinders 1214 are used, other devices may also be used. The dies 1213are numbered 1201 through 1204 sequentially from the upstream end. Thelength of a pair of dies 1213 in the direction of the flow of thematerial to be pressed is shown as L, so the pressing length of the fourpairs of dies 1213 is 4L. Pinch rolls 1215 are installed at the inlet ofthe housing 1211, and feed out the material 1 to be pressed as requiredto suit the pressing operation of the press machines 1212. The hydrauliccylinders 1214 and the pinch rolls 1215 are controlled by a controldevice 1216.

[0547] Next, the operation of the twenty-first embodiment is described.With this embodiment, the material 1 to be pressed is reducedsequentially to a predetermined thickness by means of the downstreamreduction press machines 1212. FIG. 73 is a descriptive diagram of theoperation of the twenty-first embodiment. FIG. 73 and subsequent figuresshow only the upper half of the material 1 to be pressed, and also theupper half of the reduction press machines 1212. FIG. 73(A) shows theprocess in which a length 4L of material, that is, 4 times the length Lof a die, is reduced by pressing the material using dies 1204 through1201 in that order, and (B) shows the conditions during pressing of thenext length 4L. As shown in (A), the material 1 to be pressed isconveyed by pinch rolls 1215 under the dies 1204 through 1201, whereeach of dies 1204 to 1201 press one at a time and is retracted, and thenthe next die presses, that is, one die completes its pressing in oneoperation. Consequently, two or more reduction press machines 1212 neveroperate at the same time, so the pressing loads are small. At that time,the corresponding upper and lower hydraulic cylinders 1214 operatesimultaneously. After the die 1201 has finished pressing, the materialis fed by a length 4L by pinch rolls 1215 as shown in (B), and pressingof the next length 4L begins.

[0548] (Twenty-Second Embodiment)

[0549] The operation of the twenty-second embodiment is described asfollows. With this embodiment, every time a material 1 to be pressed isconveyed by a length L, each of the dies 1201 to 1204 presses thematerial in that order. Each of dies 1201 through 1204 presses thematerial by an amount At from the thickness already reduced by thepreceding dies. After the pinch rolls 1215 feed the material through adistance L, each of dies 1201 to 1204 presses once in that order. FIG.74(A) is a view showing that the material 1 to be pressed after it hasbeen conveyed only up to the die 1201 only. At this time, the dies 1202through 1204 operate idly. (B) shows the state after the material 1 tobe pressed has been fed so that the end is under the die 1202. In “a,”the material is pressed by an amount Δt with the die 1201 and in “b,”the material is pressed by another amount Δt, that is, the originalthickness is reduced by 2Δt. As shown in c and d, dies 1203 and 1204press idly.

[0550] In FIG. 75(A), the material 1 to be pressed has been fed so thatthe end is under the die 1203. In “a,” the die 1201 presses the materialby an amount Δt. In “b,” the die 1202 presses by a further amount Δt togive a total of 2Δt. In “c,” the die 1203 reduces the material from thereduction of 2Δt to 3Δt. The die 1204 presses idly as shown in “d.” FIG.75(B) shows the condition in which the material 1 to be pressed has beenconveyed so that the end is under the die 1204. In “a,” the die 1201presses the material by an amount Δt. In “b,” the die 1202 reduces thematerial from a reduction of Δt to 2Δt. In “c,” the die 1203 presses toreduce from 2Δt to 3Δt. In “d”, the die 1204 presses, from the reductionof 3Δt to 4Δt. At this time, the amount of reduction of 4Δt is theplanned reduction.

[0551]FIG. 76 is a view in which the leading end of the material 1 to bepressed has been transferred beyond the die 1204 by a length L. In “a,”the die 1201 presses the material by an amount Δt. In “b,” the die 1202presses the material from a reduction of Δt to 2Δt. In “c,” the die 1203presses from a reduction of 2Δt to 3Δt. In “d,” the die 1204 reduces thematerial from 3Δt to 4Δt. In this way, the planned reduction of 4Δt isachieved. Because each reduction press machine works sequentially, andonly one machine is actuated at a time, the loads applied to the entirereduction equipment are small, and the equipment can be made small.

[0552] In the aforementioned embodiment, the material 1 to be pressedhas been assumed to move only in the forward direction, but the amountof the reduction can be increased to twice as much by feeding thematerial backwards and then pressing again.

[0553] As can easily be understood from the above description, accordingto the present invention, the pressing length of each of a plurality ofreduction press machines is made short, and the machines press thematerial sequentially, so that two or more machines will not be workingat the same time, therefore the loads applied to the entire reductionpress equipment are small and the equipment becomes compact.

[0554] (Twenty-Third Embodiment)

[0555]FIG. 77 shows the configuration of the plate reduction pressapparatus of the twenty-third embodiment. A flying press machine 1302 isinstalled in the upstream direction of the flow of a material 1 to bepressed, and a rolling mill 1303 is installed in the downstreamdirection of the flow. The flying press machine 1302 is provided withdies 1302 a that press the material 1 to be pressed, pressing cylinders1302 b that depress the dies 1302 a, and transfer cylinders 1302 c thatmove the dies 1302 a and the pressing cylinders 1302 b backwards andforwards in the direction of flow of the material to be pressed. Therolling mill 1303 is either a roughing-down mill and a finishing rollingmill, or a finishing rolling mill. Press-side speed adjusting rolls 1304are provided on the downstream side of the flying press machine 1302,and rolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305 are installed on theupstream side of the rolling mill 1303, between the flying press machine1302 and the rolling mill 1303. For the speed adjusting rolls 1304,1305, pinch rolls, and measuring rolls, etc. are provided, which adjustthe speed of the material 1 to be transferred and pressed and alsomeasure the length of the material passed. Transfer tables 1306 areinstalled between the flying press machine 1302 and the press-side speedadjusting rolls 1304 and between the rolling mill 1303 and therolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305.

[0556] Guide rolls 1307 are provided with a spacing m between eachother, between the press-side speed adjusting rolls 1304 and therolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305, and this space between thetwo guide rolls 7 constitutes a section m in which the material 1 to bepressed is deflected. In the deflection section m, a pit has been formedin the foundations in which an up/down table 1308 with rollers fortransferring the material 1 to be pressed is installed and can be raisedand lowered by means of up/down cylinders 1309 provided under the table.In the deflection section m, there is a low-position detector 1310 athat detects the occurrence of a large deflection and a high-positiondetector 1310 b that detects the occurrence of a small deflection. Acontrol device 1311 controls the flying press machine 1302, thepress-side speed adjusting rolls 1304, the rolling-mill-side speedadjusting rolls 1305, and the up/down cylinders 1309 based on data forthe lengths passing the press-machine side speed adjusting rolls 1304and the rolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305 and deflection datafrom the low-position detector 1310 a and the high-position detector1310 b.

[0557] Next, the operations are described. First, the up/down table 1308is positioned at the highest level, that is, the rolls of the up/downtable 1308 are on the same level as the level of the guide rolls 1307,by means of the up/down cylinders 1309, and then the flying pressmachine 1302 is operated to reduce the material 1 to be pressed and feedthe material to the rolling mill 1303. At the rolling mill 1303,continuous rolling begins. When the material 1 to be pressed entersbetween the rolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305, the up/downtable 1308 is lowered to the lowest position to enable the material tobe deflected. At the same time, the press-side speed adjusting rolls1304 and the rolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305 provide datafor the lengths passed, and the low position detector 1310 a and thehigh position detector 1310 b provide data about the deflection, andthese data are input to the control device which determines thedifference between the lengths passed, that is, the difference betweentwo lengths passed during one cycle or a plurality of cycles of theflying press machine, and the control device adjusts the transfer speedsof the material 1 to be pressed by the press-side speed adjusting rolls1304 and the rolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305, and increasesor decreases the number of operating cycles in a predetermined timeperiod, and so forth. These three adjustments are performed by selectingeither one, two or three of them. In addition, data from the lowposition detector 1310 a and the high position detector 1310 b aremonitored continuously, and the deflection data is checked to see if thedeflection remains within a predetermined range, and if not, the speedadjusting rolls 1304, 1305 adjust the deflection to keep it in therange. When the trailing end of the material 1 to be pressed approachesthe press-side speed adjusting rolls 1304, the up/down cylinders 1309are operated in such a manner that the position of the rollers on theup/down table 1308 match the guide rolls 1307.

[0558]FIG. 78(A) shows the variations in the speed of the material to bepressed at the inlet of the press-side speed adjusting rolls, and (B)shows the speed at the outlet of the rolling-mill-side speed adjustingrolls 1305. The transfer speed of the material 1 to be pressed, as itpasses through the flying press machine 1302, is adjusted by thepress-side speed adjusting rolls 1304, and the speed of the material 1to be pressed, sent into the rolling mill 1303, is adjusted by therolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305. In (A), the pressingperiod is determined by the transfer cylinders so that an optimumtransfer speed for pressing is established, and the press-side speedadjusting rolls 1304 are adjusted to establish this speed. Afterpressing, the transfer speed is increased from the low speed used duringpressing, and then after the speed is decreased to the normal transferspeed and maintained at that speed, the speed is reduced to the pressingspeed for the next cycle. The dies 1302 a and the pressing cylinders1302 b are moved by the transfer cylinders 1302 c in such a manner thatduring a predetermined period from before pressing, during pressing andafter pressing, the dies and the cylinders move in the direction of flowof the material 1 to be pressed and then return to the upstream side.The press-side speed adjusting rolls 1304 adjust the transfer speedduring the period other than the pressing period (the period in whichthe dies 1302 a are separated from the material 1 to be pressed). Therolling-mill-side speed adjusting rolls 1305 adjust the transfer speedof the material 1 to be pressed so as to convey the material at as evena speed as possible to the rolling mill 1303.

[0559] (Twenty-Fourth Embodiment)

[0560] The twenty-fourth embodiment is described next. FIG. 79 shows theconfiguration of the plate reduction press apparatus according to thetwenty-fourth embodiment. Item numbers refer to the same components asthose in FIG. 77. The present embodiment is different from theembodiment shown in FIG. 77, in that a start-stop reduction pressmachine 1320 is used in place of the flying press machine 1302 shown inFIG. 77, in which transfer of the material 1 to be pressed is stoppedduring pressing, and the other details of the configuration are same.Because the transfer speed adjusting methods are considerably differentfor the two embodiments, the method is described by referring to FIG.80. FIG. 80(A) shows the transfer speed of the material 1 to be pressedas it passes through the reduction press machine 1320. One cycle meansthat of the reduction press machine 1320. The transfer speed during thepressing period is 0. After completing the pressing of the material, thetransfer speed is increased abruptly to recover the delay caused bypressing, and then it is decreased sharply down to the normal speed.When the next cycle of pressing approaches, the speed is adjusted toclose to zero. At the rolling-machine-side speed adjusting rolls 1305,as shown in (B), the deflection absorbs a length of the material whenthe transfer speed suddenly changes, and the material 1 to be pressed isfed into the rolling mill 1303 at a speed as uniform as possible, butthe deflection changes depending on the magnitude of the speed change.Therefore, the plate reduction press apparatus according to the presentembodiment can be applied also to a start-stop reduction press machineas well as a flying press machine 1302.

[0561] Obviously from the above, according to the present invention, apress machine and a rolling mill can be operated simultaneously to pressand roll a material, respectively, by adjusting the transfer speed ofthe material to be pressed, when the material flows through the upstreampress machine and the downstream rolling mill.

[0562] (Twenty-Fifth Embodiment)

[0563]FIG. 81 is a view showing the configuration and operations of theplate reduction press apparatus according to the twenty-fifth embodimentof the present invention. Dies 1402 are provided above and below amaterial 1 to be pressed, and the dies 1402 are moved up and down bycrank devices 1403 and press the material 1. The dies 1402 and the crankdevices 1403 are moved backwards and forwards in the direction of flowof the material to be pressed, by means of reciprocating crank devices1404. The crank devices 1403 and the reciprocating crank devices 1404are operated in synchronism with each other. Item numbers indicatevarious components; 1402 a for an upper die, 1402 b for a lower die,1403 a for an upper crank device, 1403 b for a lower crank device, 1404a for an upper reciprocating crank device, and 1404 b for a lowerreciprocating crank device. Pinch rolls 1405 are arranged upstream anddownstream of the dies 1402, and control the transfer speed of thematerial 1 to be pressed, and are controlled by a control device notillustrated. Transfer tables 1406 are installed near the pinch rolls1405 and transfer the material 1 to be pressed. A looper 1407 isprovided downstream of the downstream pinch rolls 1405 and thedownstream transfer table 1406, on the downstream side of the dies 1402,and the looper holds up a length of the material 1 to be pressed in aloop, to cope with the transfer speed of the material 1 to be pressed ina subsequent system. The transfer device specified in the claim 56refers to the pinch rolls 1405.

[0564]FIG. 82 is a diagram describing the operations of the crankdevices 1403, 1404. FIG. 83 is a curve showing the operations of thecrank devices 1403 shown in FIG. 82, developed along the crank angle θ,and FIG. 84 is a diagram showing the speed of the material 1 to bepressed in the direction of flow by the dies 1402 driven by thereciprocating crank devices 1404 in FIG. 82, as a function of the crankangle θ. In FIG. 82, the letter c denotes the bottom dead center of theupstream crank devices 1403 a or the top dead center of the downstreamcrank devices 1403 b, and the material 1 to be pressed is reduced by thedies 1402 in a range of crank angles θ from b to c1, which includes thepoint c. The speed of the dies 1402 during pressing in the direction offlow of the material to be pressed is shown in FIG. 84; Vb, Vc, and Vc1indicate the speeds at the points b, c, and c1, respectively.

[0565]FIG. 85 shows the transfer speed of the material 1 to be pressed,transferred by the pinch rolls 1405. Vb, Vc and Vc1 indicate the speedsof the dies 1402, shown in FIG. 84. The pinch rolls 1405 convey thematerial 1 to be pressed at the same speed as the speed of the dies 1402moved by the reciprocating crank devices 1404 when the crank devices1403 are causing the dies 1402 to press. In other words, the speedbecomes Vb when pressing begins, the same as the dies 1402, and afterreaching the maximum speed Vc, it becomes Vc1, i.e. the speed whenpressing ends, and after that, the speed changes to the original speedVb for the beginning of the next pressing operation. The pinch rolls1405 are controlled in such a manner that the length L is less than theeffective pressing length L0 of the dies 1402 shown in FIG. 81, whereone cycle of the pinch rolls is defined by the time period from thespeed Vb when pressing starts to the next speed Vb when pressing startsagain, and L represents the distance moved by the material 1 to bepressed during one cycle. As described above, the length L of thematerial 1 to be pressed is reduced during one cycle of the pinch rolls1405 (which is the same length as that of one cycle of the crank devices1403).

[0566] In FIG. 81, (A) shows the status at point a, (B) shows theconditions during pressing from point b to c1, and (C) shows theconditions at point d, corresponding to d in FIG. 82. The material ispressed sequentially by the length L each cycle, while repeating steps(A), (B) and (C).

[0567] (Twenty-Sixth Embodiment)

[0568] The twenty-sixth embodiment is described next. FIG. 86 is a viewshowing the configuration of the twenty-sixth embodiment. Thetwenty-sixth embodiment is provided with the two-dimensional crankdevices 1408 which drive the dies 1402 backwards and forwards (thedirection of transfer and the direction opposite to the direction oftransfer) as well as in the up and down direction. In other words, thetwo-dimensional crank devices 1408 function like a combination of thecrank devices 1403 and the reciprocating crank devices 1404 in thetwenty-fifth embodiment. The two-dimensional crank devices 1408 move up,down, and backwards and forwards as they are connected eccentrically tothe rotating shafts 1409. Although the operations are the same as thoseof the crank devices 1403 and the reciprocating crank devices 1404, theamplitude of the movement in the up and down direction is the same asthe amplitude of the movement in the backward and forward direction.Except for the crank devices 1408 the components are the same as thoseof the twenty-fifth embodiment.

[0569] (Twenty-Seventh Embodiment)

[0570] The twenty-seventh embodiment is explained below. FIG. 87 is aview showing the configuration of the crank type stentering pressmachine. Stentering dies 1412 are provided at both lateral ends with amaterial 1 to be pressed between them, and the dies 1412 press thematerial 1 to be pressed in the lateral direction by means of thelateral crank devices 1413. The lateral dies 1412 and the lateral crankdevices 1413 are moved backwards and forwards in the direction of flowof the material to be pressed, by means of the reciprocating lateralcrank devices 1414. The lateral crank devices 1413 and the reciprocatinglateral crank devices 1414 operate in synchronism together. Pinch rolls1415 are arranged upstream and downstream of the stentering dies 1412,and control the transfer speed of the material 1 to be pressed, and arecontrolled by a control device not illustrated. Transfer tables 1416 areprovided near the pinch rolls 1415 and transfer the material 1 to bepressed. Although not illustrated, a looper 1417 is arranged downstreamof the downstream pinch rolls 1415 of the stentering dies 1412 and thetransfer table 1416, in which the material 1 to be pressed is looped anda surplus length thereof is retained, to match the transfer speed of thematerial 1 conveyed to a subsequent machine. The reciprocating devicesspecified in claim 58 correspond to the reciprocating lateral crankdevices 1414, and the transfer devices are represented by the pinchrolls 1415. Operations of the twenty-seventh embodiment aresubstantially the same as those of the twenty-fifth embodiment.

[0571] In the above descriptions of the twenty-fifth and twenty-seventhembodiments, the reciprocating devices were described as crank devices,but hydraulic cylinders, ball screws, etc. may also be used to give thereciprocating motions.

[0572] As shown in the descriptions above, the present inventionprovides the following advantages as the dies are driven by the crankdevices to press the material, and the material is transferred insynchronism with the reciprocating speed during pressing, using transferdevices.

[0573] (1) Because the speed of the material to be pressed does notchange so much during transfer, no large-capacity transfer devices suchas pinch rolls and transfer tables are required.

[0574] (2) No high-capacity swinging devices are needed because thereare no heavy sliders such as those used in a flying system.

[0575] (3) Vibration is moderate because of (2) above.

[0576] (4) The apparatus according to the present invention call beeasily operated together with a subsequent machine by using a looperetc.

[0577] (Twenty-Eighth Embodiment)

[0578]FIG. 88 is a view showing the plate reduction press apparatus ofthe twenty-eighth embodiment. FIG. 89 shows the operation of thetwenty-eighth embodiment. Dies 1052 are arranged above and below amaterial 1 to be pressed, and the dies 1502 are connected to eccentricportions of the crank shafts 1504 of the crank devices 1503. The crankdevices 1503 are provided with eccentric portions rotated by the crankshafts 1504, and move the dies 1502 up and down, while moving thembackwards and forwards in the direction of flow of the material to bepressed. Item numbers refer to components, such as 1502 a for the upperdie, 1502 b for the lower die, 1503 a for the upper crank devices, and1503 b for the lower crank devices. Pinch rolls 1505 are installedupstream of the dies 1502 and control the transfer speed of the material1 to be pressed, and are controlled by a controller 1510. Pinch rollsmay also be installed downstream of the dies 1502. As shown in FIG. 89,transfer tables 1506 are arranged in the vicinity of and on the upstreamside of the pinch rolls 1505, and on the downstream side of the dies1502, and convey the material 1 to be pressed. A looper 1507 is arrangeddownstream of the downstream transfer table 1506, and retains thematerial 1 to be pressed in the shape of a loop, to match the speed ofprocessing the material 1 to be pressed in a subsequent system.

[0579] In FIG. 88, the crank device 1503 is provided with a load cell1511 which measures the pressing force applied to the die 1502 a. Acrank shaft rotation sensor 1512 is also provided and measures therotation of the crank shaft. Measurement data from the load cell 1511and the crank shaft rotation sensor 1512 are transmitted to thecontroller 1510.

[0580] The pinch rolls 1505 arc equipped with a pinch roll rotationsensor 1513 that measures the rotation of the pinch rolls 1505, andoutputs the measurement to the controller 1510. The pinch rolls 1505 areprovided with a cylinder 1514 for pressing the material 1 to be pressed,a changeover valve 1515 for switching the direction of supplying fluidto the cylinder 1514, a pump 1516 for supplying pressurized fluid, aregulating valve 1517 to reduce the output pressure of the pump 1516,and a tank 1518 for storing the fluid. The regulating valve 1517 iscontrolled by the controller 1510, to change the pressure of the pinchrolls 1505 applied to the material 1 to be pressed, to P1 or P2.

[0581] The operations are described next. FIG. 89 shows the operationsof the crank devices 1503 and the dies 1502 during a period of onerevolution of the crank shafts 1504 of the crank devices 1503 (thisperiod is defined as one cycle). FIG. 90 is a diagram showing therelationship between the angle of rotation and pressing for the crankshafts 1504 of the crank devices 1503. The operations of the upper crankdevice 1503 a are described. The operations of the lower crank device1503 b are the same as those of the upper crank device 1503 a as far asbackward and forward movements are concerned (movement in the downstreamdirection is considered the forward movement), although the up and downmovements are in the opposite direction. Points a, c, b and d representtop dead center, bottom dead center, most upstream point and mostdownstream point, respectively, of the movement of the dies 1502. Thestarting point of a cycle is point b, and in the range b-c-d, movementis in the forward direction, and in the range d-a-b, movement is in thebackward direction. From the time R, the material 1 begins to be pressedand pressing is completed at S after passing c. FIG. 89(A) shows thestatus at point b, and (B) at point c and (C) at point d. The distancebetween points b and d is the distance that the dies move in one cycle.The distance L that the material 1 to be pressed moves in a cycle isadjusted so as not to exceed the effective pressing length L0 of thedies 1502 in the transfer direction, to assure complete pressing.

[0582]FIG. 91 shows the output of the load cell 1511, the crank shaftrotation sensor 1512 and pinch roll rotation sensor 1513, and thepressing force on the pinch rolls 1505, adjusted by controlling theregulating valve 1517 with the controller 1510 using the measurementdata. (a) is a graph of the movements or speeds of the dies 1502 as afunction of the crank angle, obtained by developing FIG. 90 along thecrank angle. The pressing range R to S is shown by the hatched areas.(b) shows the outputs of the load cell, produced during the pressingrange R to S with a peak intermediate between R and S. (c) shows thefeeding speeds of the pinch rolls 1505; the speed in the pressing rangeR to S is the speed of the dies 1502 between R and S, plus or minus theelongation speed of the material 1 due to pressing, and when the pinchrolls 1505 are located on the upstream side of the dies 1502 as shown inFIG. 88, the elongation speed in the upstream direction is subtractedfrom the transfer speed to compensate for the speed of the materialextending in the upstream direction, and when the rolls are located thedownstream side as shown in FIG. 90, the elongation speed in thedownstream direction is added to the transfer speed to correct for thespeed of the material extending in the downstream direction.

[0583] The status shown in (d) is that the controller 1510 has detectedthe point R where pressing begins by means of the crank shaft rotationsensor 1512, or has detected the point R when the pressing loadincreases by means of the load cell 1511, and the controller has reducedthe pressing force of the pinch rolls 1505 from P1 to P2 which is lowerthan P1, and then at the point S where pressing ends, the force has beenreturned to the original value P1. By decreasing the pressing force ofthe pinch rolls 1505 as described above, the material 1 to be pressed,the press machine and pinch rolls 1505 can be protected from theoccurrence of flaws or damage even if the combination speed of the speedof the dies 1502 subtracted by the elongation speed of the materialdeviates from the speed of the pinch rolls 1505. In the above, eitherthe load cell 1511 or the crank shaft rotation sensor 1512 has to beprovided.

[0584] (e) shows a case in which the controller 1510 detects an angle ata time earlier than the point R where pressing begins by a time t bymeans of the crank shaft rotation sensor 1512, and at that time, thepressing force of the pinch rolls 1505 has been reduced from P1 to P2lower than P1, and at the point S where pressing ends, the pressingforce has been returned to the original value P1. Thus, the pinch rolls1505 reduce the gripping force on the material 1 to be pressed beforethe dies 1502 catch the material 1, so that the material 1 to be pressedcan be firmly caught by the dies 1502 without slipping. As in the caseof (d), the material 1 to be pressed, the press machine and the pinchrolls 1505 can be protected from the occurrence of flaws or damage evenif the combination speed of the speed of the dies 1502 subtracted by theelongation speed of the material differs from the speed of the pinchrolls 1505.

[0585] (Twenty-Ninth Embodiment)

[0586]FIG. 92 shows the twenty-ninth embodiment. With the presentembodiment, the pinch rolls 1505 of the twenty-eighth embodiment shownin FIG. 88 are changed to the downstream side of the dies 1502, and allother components are the same as those of the twenty-eighth embodiment.According to such a downstream arrangement, the transfer speed of thepinch rolls 1505 while the dies 1502 are pressing, becomes thecombination speed of the speed of the dies plus the elongation speed ofthe material 1 to be pressed.

[0587] (Thirtieth Embodiment)

[0588]FIG. 93 illustrates the thirtieth embodiment. The presentembodiment combines the twenty-eighths embodiment shown in FIG. 88 andthe twenty-ninth embodiment in FIG. 93.

[0589] As can easily be understood from the explanation above, accordingto the present invention, the material is transferred while beingpressed by the dies, and the pressing force of the pinch rolls isreduced when the dies are pressing, so the following advantages areprovided.

[0590] (1) Because the transfer speed of the material to be pressed doesnot change significantly, the transfer devices such as pinch rolls andtransfer tables do not need to have a large capacity.

[0591] (2) Because no heavy sliders are provided, unlike a flyingsystem, no high-capacity swinging devices are needed.

[0592] (3) Even a long (heavy) slab can be securely speeded up andslowed down to feed it precisely at the required rate.

[0593] (4) The material to be pressed is protected from being flawed dueto slipping without applying an excessive load on the equipment, evenwhen there is a difference between the speeds of feeding the material bythe dies and the pinch rolls, during pressing.

[0594] (5) Slipping between the material to be pressed and the dies isminimized.

[0595] (Thirty-First Embodiment)

[0596]FIG. 94 shows the configuration of the plate reduction pressapparatus of the present embodiment. Dies 1602 a, 1602 b are providedabove and below a material (slab) 1 to be pressed, and each of the dies1602 a, 1602 b is connected to an eccentric portion of crank shafts 1604provided on each of the upper and lower crank devices 1603 a, 1603 b.The dies 1602 a, 1602 b connected to the eccentric portions are drivenup and down to press the material 1 to be pressed, while the material istransferred in the direction of flow.

[0597] On the upstream and downstream sides of the material 1 to bepressed with respect to the dies 1602 a, 1602 b, inlet transfer devices1605 and outlet transfer devices 1606 are provided, respectively; eachof transfer devices 1605, 1606 is composed of, from the closest point tothe farthest point from the dies 1602 a, 1602 b, feed rolls 1607, pinchrolls 1608 and a transfer table 1609. The feed rolls 1607 are comprisedof rolls that conveys the material 1 to be pressed and hydrauliccylinders that raise and lower the rolls, thereby the transfer height ofthe material 1 to be pressed can be adjusted. Although feed rolls 1607are installed on the upstream and downstream sides of the dies 1602 a,1602 b, a plurality of feed rolls may also be provided. Pinch rolls 1608are composed of rolls arranged above and below the material 1 to bepressed, and hydraulic cylinders that press each roll, and the pinchrolls pinch and press the material 1 to be pressed; the upstream pinchrolls 1608 push the material into the dies 1602 a, 1602 b, and thedownstream pinch rolls 1608 pull it out of the dies 1602 a, 1602 b.

[0598] The transfer table 1609 is composed of a frame 1609 a extendingin the direction of flow of the material 1 to be pressed, a plurality oftransfer rollers 1609 b arranged above the frame 1609 a, up/down guides1609 c that guide the frame 1609 a when moving up and down, and up/downcylinders 1609 d for moving the frame 1609 a up and down. The up anddown movement can also be replaced with either a parallel lifting or atilting method. A controller 1610 controls the crank devices 1603 a,1603 b, the feed rolls 1607, pinch rolls 1608 and transfer tables 1609.

[0599] The operation is described next. The controller 1610 ispreviously provided with information about the thickness of the materialto be input and pressed, the amount of reduction during pressing, etc.,therefore based on these data, the controller sets the transfer heightof feed rolls 1607, pinch rolls 1608 and transfer table 1609 of theinlet transfer device 1605 to the height of the pressing center line(particular to the press machine) subtracted by ½ of the thickness ofthe material 1 to be pressed, and the controller also sets the transferheight of the feed rolls 1607, pinch rolls 1608 and transfer table 1609of the outlet transfer device 1606, to the height of the pressing centerline subtracted by ½ of the thickness of the material 1 after beingpressed. In addition, the upper rolls of the upstream and downstreampinch rolls 1608 are raised to the highest limit, and the upper andlower dies 1602 a, 1602 b are also fully opened. Under thesecircumstances, the material 1 to be pressed is transferred between thedies 1602 a, 1602 b, and while the material is being pressed by theupper and lower dies 1602 a, 1602 b, the material is fed out in theforward direction (the direction of flow of the material 1 to bepressed).

[0600]FIG. 95 shows the up and down movements of the press machine andthe backward and forward movements during one cycle. (A) is the startingstate of one cycle, and the dies 1602 a, 1602 b are open and located inthe most upstream position. (B) shows the status in which the dies aremoving in the downstream direction while pressing. (C) is the state inwhich pressing is completed and the dies have moved to the mostdownstream position. During these operations the transfer speeds of thefeed rolls 1607, pinch rolls 1608 and transfer tables 1609 of the inlettransfer devices 1605 and outlet transfer devices 1606 are adjusted tobe identical to the forward moving speed of the dies 1602 a, 1602 bduring pressing.

[0601] (Thirty-Second Embodiment)

[0602]FIG. 96 shows the thirty-second embodiment. The equipmentconfiguration is the same as that of the thirty-first embodiment shownin FIG. 94, but the operation is different. When a material 1 to bepressed is bypassed through the press machine or the material isconveyed backwards because of a problem that has occurred in thematerial 1 being pressed, the transfer levels of the inlet transferdevices 1605 and the outlet transfer devices 1606 are made the same aseach other, and the upper and lower dies 1602 a, 1602 b are fullyopened, and the material is conveyed in the condition that the uppersurface of the lower die 1602 b is lower than the transfer level. Atthat time, the upper rolls of the inlet and outlet pinch rolls 1608 areraised to the highest point, so that the material 1 to be pressed is notconstrained.

[0603] Obviously from the description above, according to the presentinvention, the transfer level of the inlet transfer device is adjustedto the height of the press center line subtracted by one half of thethickness of the material to be input and pressed, and the transferlevel of the outlet transfer device is set to the height of the presscenter line subtracted by a half of the thickness of the material afterbeing pressed, thereby the material after being pressed will not warp orotherwise be deflected, and the transfer devices can be protected frombeing damaged. When the material to be or being pressed is bypassedthrough the press machine, the inlet and outlet transfer devices are setat the same transfer level, and the dies are fully opened, so that thematerial can be conveyed smoothly through the press machine.

[0604] Although the present invention has been explained by referring toa number of preferred embodiments, it should be understood that thescope of claims included in the specification of the present inventionshould not be limited only to the embodiments described above. To thecontrary, the scope of rights according to the present invention shallinclude all modifications, corrections or the like as long as they areincluded in the scope of the claims attached.

What is claimed is
 1. A plate reduction pressing method in which dieswith convex forming surfaces protruding towards a transfer line arebrought close to the transfer line from above and below the material tobe shaped, when viewed from the side of the transfer line, insynchronism with the movement of the material to be shaped, in such amanner that a portion of the forming surfaces of the material istransferred from the upstream side to the downstream side of thetransfer line and the material to be shaped is reduced in the directionof the plate thickness thereof.
 2. A plate reduction press apparatuscomprising die holders opposite each other above and below a transferline in which a material to be shaped is transferred horizontally, diesmounted on the said die holders and comprised of convex forming surfacesprotruding towards the said transfer line when viewed from the side ofthe transfer line, upstream eccentric shafts arranged on the side ofeach die holder on the opposite side from the transfer line andextending in the lateral direction of the transfer line, downstreameccentric shafts arranged on the side of each die holder on the oppositeside from the transfer line in alignment with the said upstreameccentric shafts, on the downstream side of the transfer line, andcomprised of eccentric portions with a different phase angle from thephase angle of the eccentric portions of the upstream eccentric shafts,upstream rods whose tips are connected to portions of the die holders,near the end of the die holders in the upstream direction of thetransfer line through bearings and whose big ends are connected to theeccentric portions of the upstream eccentric shafts through bearings,downstream rods whose tips arc connected to portions of the die holders,near the end of the die holders in the downstream direction of thetransfer line through bearings and whose big ends are connected to theeccentric portions of the downstream eccentric shafts through bearings,and mechanisms for moving the dies backwards and forwards thatreciprocate the said die holders relative to the transfer line.
 3. Theplate reduction press apparatus specified in claim 2, in which themechanisms for moving the dies backwards and forwards are comprised ofarms one end of each of which is fixed to the die holder, and guidemembers which are provided near the die holders and guide the other endof each of the said arms.
 4. The plate reduction press apparatusspecified in claim 2, in which the mechanisms for moving the diesbackwards and forwards are comprised of actuators one end of each ofwhich is connected to one of the die holders through a first bearing andthe other end of each thereof is connected to a predetermined fixingmember through a second bearing.
 5. The plate reduction press apparatusspecified in claim 2, in which the mechanisms for moving the diesbackwards and forwards are comprised of eccentric shafts for backwardsand forwards movements, provided near the die holders, and rods forbackward and forward movements, one end of each of the said rods beingconnected to one of the die holders through a first bearing and theother end thereof being connected to one of the eccentric portions ofthe eccentric shafts for backward and forward movements.
 6. The platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 2, in which the mechanismsfor moving the dies backwards and forwards are comprised of levers oneend of each of which is connected to one of the die holders through afirst bearing and the other end thereof is connected to a predeterminedfixing member through a second bearing.
 7. A plate reduction pressapparatus comprising dies arranged vertically opposite each other onopposite sides of a transfer line in which a material to be shaped istransferred horizontally, and moving towards and away from the transferline in synchronism with each other, a plurality of upstream tablerollers arranged on the upstream side of the dies on the transfer linein such a manner that the lower surface of the material to be shaped,which is to be inserted between the dies, can be supported substantiallyhorizontally, a plurality of downstream up and down table rollersarranged on the downstream side of the dies on the transfer line in sucha manner that the downstream up and down table rollers can be raised andlowered and can support the lower surface of the material after beingshaped and fed out of the dies, and a plurality of downstream tablerollers arranged on the downstream side of the downstream up and downtable rollers on the transfer line in such a manner that the lowersurface of the material after being shaped and fed out of the dies canbe supported substantially horizontally at a height substantially thesame as the height of the said upstream up and down table rollers.
 8. Aplate reduction press apparatus comprising dies arranged verticallyopposite each other on opposite sides of a transfer line in which amaterial to be shaped is transferred horizontally, and moving towardsand away from the transfer line in synchronism with each other, aplurality of upstream up and down table rollers arranged on the upstreamside of the dies on the transfer line in such a manner that the upstreamup and down table rollers can be raised and lowered, and can support thelower surface of the material to be shaped, which is to be insertedbetween the dies, and a plurality of downstream table rollers arrangedon the downstream side of the dies on the transfer line in such a mannerthat the lower surface of the material being shaped and fed out of thedies can be supported.
 9. A plate reduction press apparatus comprisingdies arranged vertically opposite each other on opposite sides of atransfer line in which a material to be shaped is transferredhorizontally, and moving towards and away from the transfer line insynchronism with each other, a plurality of upstream up and down tablerollers arranged on the upstream side of the dies on the transfer linein such a manner that the upstream up and down table rollers can beraised and lowered, and the lower surface of the material to be shaped,which is to be inserted between the dies, can be supported, and aplurality of downstream up and down table rollers arranged on thedownstream side of the dies in such a manner that the lower surface ofthe material being shaped and fed out of the dies can be supported. 10.A method of operating the plate reduction press apparatus specified inclaim 7, in which when a long material to be shaped is inserted betweenboth dies, and reduced and formed in the direction of the platethickness, the vertical positions of the downstream up and down tablerollers near the dies are determined in such a manner that the materialafter being shaped and fed out of the dies is substantially horizontal,and the vertical positions of the downstream up and down table rollerson the side farther from the dies are determined in such a manner thatthe material being shaped gradually descends towards the downstreamtable rollers.
 11. A method of operating the plate reduction pressapparatus specified in claim 8, in which when a long material to beshaped is inserted between both dies, and reduced and formed in thedirection of the plate thickness, the vertical positions of the upstreamup and down table rollers near the dies are determined in such a mannerthat the material to be shaped, which is to be inserted between thedies, is substantially horizontal.
 12. A method of operating the platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 2, in which when a longmaterial to be shaped is inserted between both dies, and reduced andformed in the direction of the plate thickness, the vertical positionsof the upstream up and down table rollers near the dies and thedownstream up and down table rollers from the dies are determined insuch a manner that the material to be shaped, which is to be insertedbetween the dies, and the material after being shaped and fed out of thedies are substantially horizontal.
 13. The method of operating the platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 10, in which when a longmaterial to be shaped is not reduced or formed in the direction of theplate thickness by the dies, the positions of the upper surfaces of thedownstream up and down table rollers are determined to be identical tothe positions of the upper surfaces of the downstream table rollers. 14.A method of operating the plate reduction press apparatus specified inclaim 8, in which when a long material to be shaped is not reduced orformed in the direction of the plate thickness by the dies, thepositions of the upper surfaces of the upstream up and down tablerollers are determined to be identical to the positions of the uppersurfaces of the downstream table rollers.
 15. A method of operating theplate reduction press apparatus specified in claim 9, in which when along material to be shaped is not reduced or formed in the direction ofthe plate thickness by the dies, the positions of the upper surfaces ofthe upstream up and down table rollers and the downstream table rollersare determined to be identical to each other.
 16. A plate thicknessreduction pressing method comprising a first plate thickness reductionsub-method; in which a material to be shaped is transferred from theupstream side of the transfer line to the downstream side of thetransfer line, upstream dies with forming surfaces facing the saidmaterial to be shaped are moved towards the material to be shaped whilethe upstream dies are being moved in the downstream direction of thetransfer line and the upstream dies are moved away from the materialbeing shaped while the upstream dies are being moved in the upstreamdirection of the transfer line, each in synchronism with the other die,the said material to be shaped is reduced and shaped in the direction ofthe plate thickness sequentially, and a second plate thickness reductionsub-method; in which downstream dies with forming surfaces facing thesaid material being shaped are moved towards the material being shapedwith a reverse phase angle to the phase angle of the said upstream dieswhile the downstream dies are being moved in the downstream direction ofthe transfer line from above and below a portion of the material, whosethickness has been reduced through the first plate thickness reductionsub-method and the downstream dies are moved away from the materialbeing shaped while the downstream dies are being moved in the upstreamdirection of the transfer line, in synchronism with each other; and thesaid material after being shaped by the first plate reduction sub-methodis further reduced and shaped in the direction of the plate thicknesssequentially.
 17. A plate reduction press apparatus comprising upstreamsliders arranged vertically opposite each other on opposite sides of atransfer line in which a material to be shaped is transferred,mechanisms for moving the upstream sliders that move the said upstreamsliders towards the transfer line and move the upstream sliders awayfrom the transfer line, upstream dies mounted on the upstream sliders insuch a manner that the upstream dies can move along the transfer line,and are comprised of forming surfaces facing the transfer line,mechanisms for moving the upstream dies that move the said upstream diesbackwards and forwards along the transfer line, downstream sliderslocated on the downstream side of the said upstream sliders on thetransfer line, opposite each other on opposite sides of the transferline, mechanisms for moving the downstream sliders that move the saiddownstream sliders towards the transfer line and move the downstreamsliders away from the transfer line, downstream dies mounted on thedownstream sliders in such a manner that the downstream dies can movealong the transfer line, and are comprised of forming surfaces facingthe transfer line, and mechanisms for moving the downstream dies thatmove the said downstream dies backwards and forwards along the transferline.
 18. The plate reduction press apparatus specified in claim 17,comprising mechanisms for moving the upstream sliders comprised ofupstream crank shafts arranged on the opposite side of the upstreamsliders to the transfer line, and upstream rods one end of each of whichis connected to an eccentric portion of one of the upstream crank shaftsthrough a first bearing and the other end of each of which is connectedto one of the upstream sliders through a second bearing, and mechanismsfor moving the downstream sliders comprised of downstream crank shaftsarranged on the opposite side of the downstream sliders to the transferline, and downstream rods one end of each of which is connected to aneccentric portion of one of the downstream crank shafts through a thirdbearing and the other end of each of which is connected to one of thedownstream sliders through a fourth bearing.
 19. The plate reductionpress apparatus specified in claim 18, comprising a synchronous drivemechanism that rotates the upstream crank shafts and the downstreamcrank shafts in synchronism in the same direction in such a manner thatthe phase angles of the eccentric portions of both upstream anddownstream crank shafts maintain a difference of 180°.
 20. The platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 17 or 18, comprisingupstream crank shafts and downstream crank shafts that are supportedthrough bearings in such a manner that both the said crank shafts aresubstantially parallel to the direction orthogonal to the transfer line.21. A plate reduction press apparatus comprising a pair of dies arrangedopposite each other on opposite sides of the transfer line of a materialto be shaped and moved towards and away from each other in synchronismwith each other, upstream side guides arranged in the close vicinity ofthe said dies on the upstream side in the direction of the transfer linein such a manner that the upstream side guides are opposite each otherin the lateral direction of the material to be shaped on opposite sidesof the transfer line, and comprised of a first pair of side guide unitsthat can be moved towards and away from the transfer line, anddownstream side guides arranged in the close vicinity of the said dieson the downstream side in the direction of the transfer line in such amanner that the downstream side guides are opposite each other in thelateral direction of the material being shaped on opposite sides of thetransfer line, and comprised of a second pair of side guide units thatcan be moved towards and away from the transfer line.
 22. A platereduction press apparatus comprising a pair of dies arranged oppositeeach other on opposite sides of the transfer line of a material to beshaped and moved towards and away from each other in synchronism witheach other, upstream side guides arranged in the close vicinity of thesaid dies on the upstream dies in the direction of the transfer line insuch a manner that the upstream side guides are opposite each other inthe lateral direction of the material to be shaped on opposite sides ofthe transfer line, and comprised of a first pair of side units that canbe moved towards and away from the transfer line, upstream verticalrollers supported by the corresponding upstream side guides in such amanner that the upstream vertical rollers can contact the lateral edgesof the material to be shaped, when the material passes between the saidupstream side guides, downstream side guides arranged in the closevicinity of the said dies on the downstream side in the direction of thetransfer line in such a manner that the downstream side guides areopposite each other in the lateral direction of the material beingshaped on opposite sides of the transfer line, and comprised of a secondpair of side guide units that can be moved towards and away from thetransfer line, and downstream vertical rollers supported by thecorresponding downstream side guides in such a manner that thedownstream vertical rollers can contact the lateral edges of thematerial being shaped, when the material passes between the saiddownstream side guides.
 23. A plate reduction press apparatus comprisingupper and lower drive shafts arranged opposite each other above andbelow a material to be pressed, and driven to rotate, upper and lowerpress frames one end of each of which engages with one of the said driveshafts in a freely slidable manner, and the other ends of which areconnected together in a freely rotatable manner, a horizontal guidedevice that supports the connection portions of the said press frames ina manner such that they can slide in the horizontal direction, and upperand lower dies mounted at the ends of the upper and lower press frames,facing the material to be pressed, in which the upper and lower driveshafts are comprised of a pair of eccentric shafts that are located atboth lateral ends with a phase angle difference between each other, andthe upper and lower dies are opened and closed with a rolling movementby rotating the drive shafts, and the material to be pressed istransferred while the material is pressed with a rolling action.
 24. Theplate reduction press apparatus specified in claim 23, in which adriving device rotates and drives the drive shafts, the rotational speedof-the said driving device is variable, and the rotational speed isdetermined in such a manner that the speed of the dies in the directionof the transfer line during pressing is substantially equal to the speedof feeding the material to be pressed.
 25. The plate reduction pressapparatus specified in claim 23, comprising a looper device thatprovides a slack portion in the material to be pressed on the downstreamside and holds up the material.
 26. A plate reduction press apparatuscomprising upper and lower crank shafts arranged opposite each otherabove and below a material to be pressed and driven to rotate, upper andlower press frames one end of each of which engages with one of the saidcrank shafts in a freely slidable manner, and the other ends of whichare connected in a freely rotatable manner, horizontal guide devicesthat support the connecting portions of the said press frames in ahorizontally movable manner, and upper and lower dies mounted at theends of the upper and lower press frames, facing the material to bepressed; in which the crank shafts rotate to open and close the upperand lower dies, and press the material to be pressed, while the materialis being transferred.
 27. The plate reduction press apparatus specifiedin claim 26, comprising a driving device for rotating and driving thecrank shafts, in which the rotational speed of the said driving deviceis variable and determined in such a manner that the speed of the diesin the direction of the transfer line during pressing is substantiallyequal to the feeding speed of the material to be pressed.
 28. The platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 26, further comprising alooper device that provides a slack portion in the material to bepressed on the downstream side and holds up the material.
 29. The platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 26, further comprisingheight adjusting plates that are maintained between the dies and thepress frames and adjust the heights of the dies.
 30. A plate reductionpressing method in which the speed of feeding a material to be pressedis made variable with respect to the maximum speed of dies in thedirection of transfer line.
 31. The plate reduction pressing methodspecified in claim 30, in which the speed of feeding the material to bepressed is made variable in such a manner that at the beginning ofpressing, the speed is made higher than the said maximum speed and madelower at an intermediate time in the pressing period.
 32. A platereduction press apparatus comprising upper and lower eccentric driveshafts arranged opposite each other above and below a material to bepressed and driven to rotate, upper and lower synchronous eccentricshafts that rotate around the said eccentric drive shafts, upper andlower press frames one end of each of which engages with one of the saidsynchronous eccentric shafts in a freely slidable manner, and the otherends of which are connected together in a freely rotatable manner, andupper and lower dies mounted at ends of the upper and lower pressframes, facing the material to be pressed, in which the upper and lowerdies are opened and closed by rotating the upper and lower eccentricdrive shafts, and when the material to be pressed is being pressed bythe dies, the synchronous eccentric shafts synchronize the speed of thepress frames in the direction of transfer line with the speed of thematerial to be pressed in the direction of the transfer line.
 33. Aplate reduction press apparatus comprising crank shafts arranged aboveand below a material to be pressed, sliders which engage with the saidcrank shafts in a freely slidable manner and made to move in a circularpath, dies mounted on the sliders facing the said material to bepressed, and a driving device for driving and rotating the said crankshafts, in which the said crank shafts arc comprised of eccentric shaftsengaged with the said sliders, and support shafts arranged at both endsof the eccentric shafts with shaft center lines eccentric to the shaftcenter lines of the eccentric shafts, and at least one of the supportshafts is provided with a counterweight offset with an eccentric centerline substantially at an angle of 180°, to the direction of theeccentricity of the said eccentric shafts.
 34. A plate reduction pressapparatus comprising crank shafts arranged above and below a material tobe pressed, upper and lower press frames one end of each of whichengages with one of the crank shafts in a freely slidable manner andmade to move in a circular path, and the other ends of which areconnected together in a freely rotatable manner, horizontal guidedevices that hold the connecting portions of the press frames in amanner such that they can move in the horizontal direction, dies mountedat ends of the said press frames facing the material to be pressed, anda driving device for driving and rotating the said crank shafts, inwhich the said crank shafts are comprised of eccentric shafts engagedwith the said ends of the press frames, and support shafts arranged onboth sides of the eccentric shafts with shaft center lines eccentric tothe shaft center lines of the eccentric shafts, and at least one of thesupport shafts is provided with a counterweight offset with an eccentriccenter line substantially at an angle of 180°, to the direction ofeccentricity of the said eccentric shafts.
 35. The plate reduction pressapparatus specified in claim 33 or 34, in which the said counterweighthas a mass sufficient to store rotating energy and can also function asa flywheel.
 36. The plate reduction press apparatus specified in claim33 or 34 in which the inertia force due to the eccentricity of the saidcounterweight is determined so as to substantially cancel the inertiaforce produced by the said sliders or one end of the said press frames.37. A plate reduction press apparatus comprising dies arranged above andbelow a slab, sliders provided for each of the dies so that the dies canbe moved up, down, and backwards and forwards with a swinging motion anda driving device for driving the sliders, in which each of the saidsliders is comprised of a main unit with a circular hole with its centerlines in the lateral direction of the slab, and a crank with a firstaxis engaged with the circular hole and a second shaft with a diametersmaller than the diameter of the first shaft and a center line offsetfrom the center line of the first shaft, and the second shaft is rotatedand driven by the said driving device.
 38. A plate reduction pressapparatus comprising a die arranged above or below a slab, a slider formoving the die up, down, and backwards and forwards, a driving devicefor driving the slider, and a slab supporting member arranged oppositethe said die above or below the slab, in which the said slider iscomprised of a main unit with a circular hole with a center line in thelateral direction of the slab, a first shaft engaged with the circularhole, and a crank comprised of a second shaft with a diameter smallerthan the diameter of the first shaft and a center line offset from thecenter line of the first shaft, and the second shaft is rotated anddriven by the said driving device.
 39. The plate reduction pressesapparatus specified in claim 37 or 38, in which a plurality of circularholes and a plurality of cranks arranged in the said sliders arearranged in a row in the transfer direction of the slab, and constructedin such a manner that each crank produces pressing force.
 40. The platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 37 or 38, in which aplurality of circular holes and a plurality of cranks equipped in thesaid sliders are arranged in a row in the transfer direction of theslab, and constructed in such a manner that one crank bears the momentof the load and the other cranks produce pressing force.
 41. The platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 37 or 38, in which the saidslab is transferred by pinch rolls or tables, and the slab istransferred in synchronism with the forward velocity of the sliders whenthe slab is pressed by the sliders.
 42. The plate reduction pressapparatus specified in claim 37 or 38, in which the distance L in whichthe slab is moved in a cycle comprised of a reduction pressing timeperiod and a time period with a normal transfer speed is no greater thanthe length L1 of the dies in the transfer direction of the slab.
 43. Aplate reduction press apparatus comprising a pair of dies arrangedopposite each other above and below a slab, and a device that moves eachof the dies backwards and forwards and in the direction of the slab witha swinging motion, and eccentric shafts rotating in the said circularholes, and each of the said eccentric shafts is comprised of a firstshaft rotating in a circular hole with a center line A, and a secondshaft driven to rotate around a center line B offset from the said firstshaft by a distance e.
 44. A plate reduction pressing method using apair of dies arranged opposite each other above and below a slab, and adevice that moves each of the dies towards the slab with a swingingmotion, in which when the slab is pressed by the dies, the speed offeeding the slab is synchronized with the speed of the dies, and duringthe period when the slab is not being pressed and is not in contact withthe dies, the slab is fed at a constant speed corresponding to apredetermined cycle speed.
 45. A plate reduction press apparatus inwhich the direction in which a material to be pressed moves after beingpressed is defined to be longitudinal, and N dies each of which has thesame length in the longitudinal direction are arranged and press thematerial with an interval of NL between each die.
 46. The platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 45, in which the lateraldirection is defined to be the direction orthogonal to the saidlongitudinal direction, and the longitudinal length of the said dies isless than the length of the dies in the lateral direction.
 47. The platereduction press apparatus specified in claim 45, in which the said Ndies press at the same time.
 48. The plate reduction press apparatusspecified in claim 45, in which at least one of the said dies presses ata different time from the time that the other dies press.
 49. A platereduction pressing method in which each of the N press machines pressinga material to be pressed with a press length L in the direction of theflow of the material to be pressed is defined by a number K, the pressmachines are arranged such that K=1 on the upstream side of the pressingline, and K increases sequentially to K=N in the downstream directionwhen N press machines are arranged in tandem, the material to be pressedis pressed sequentially from K=N to K=1, then after the material to bepressed is fed by a length NL, that is, by the total of the pressinglengths of each press machine, sequential pressing from K=N to K=1 isrepeated to press the material.
 50. A plate reduction pressing method inwhich each of the N press machines pressing a material to be pressedwith a press length L in the direction of the flow of the material to bepressed is defined by a number K, the press machines are arranged suchthat K=1 on the upstream side of the pressing line, and K increasessequentially to K=N in the downstream direction when N press machinesare arranged in a tandem configuration, each press machine reduces thematerial by Δt, press machine K reduces the material by Δt from thethickness after it has been pressed by press machine K−1, and thematerial is pressed by repeatedly feeding the material by the presslength L after pressing the material in sequence from press machine K=1to press machines K=N.
 51. A plate reduction press apparatus comprisingspeed adjusting rolls arranged between a reduction press machine and arolling mill with a space provided in which the material to be pressedcan be deflected, metering instruments to measure the length passed arearranged near the said speed adjusting rolls or in the vicinity thereof,for measuring the length of the material to be pressed which has passed,and a control apparatus for controlling the operations of the saidreduction press machine and adjusting both speed adjusting rollsaccording to the measurement of the said metering instrument formeasuring the length passed.
 52. The plate reduction press apparatusspecified in claim 51, in which the said control apparatus obtains thedifference in the measured lengths passed of both metering instrumentsfor measuring the length passed over a period of a multiple of pressingcycles of the press machine, adjusts the number of pressing cycles ofthe press machine or the transfer speeds of the speed adjusting rolls,or a combination thereof, and controls the pressing operations in such amanner that the difference in the lengths passed is brought to
 0. 53.The plate reduction press apparatus specified in claim 51, in which adeflection metering instrument is provided to measure the deflection ofthe material to be pressed, between the said speed adjusting rolls, andthe said control apparatus controls the pressing operations according tothe measurements thereof in such a manner that the deflection remainswithin a predetermined range.
 54. The plate reduction press apparatus inwhich an apparatus for conveying material being pressed that can beraised and lowered is arranged between the said speed adjusting rolls,and when the leading end or trailing end of the material to be pressedpasses the conveyor apparatus, the material to be pressed is conveyedsubstantially at the same level as the transfer level of the speedadjusting rolls.
 55. A plate reduction pressing method, in the pressingmethod of a crank type press machine that presses a material to bepressed while it is being transferred using upper and lower dies, inwhich during the pressing period, the dies are moved at the same speedas the speed of the material to be pressed, and during the non-pressingperiod, the speed of feeding the material to be pressed is adjusted insuch a manner that during one cycle, the material to be pressed is movedby a predetermined distance L.
 56. A plate reduction press apparatuscomprising dies arranged above and below a material to be pressed, crankdevices for pressing each of the dies, and transfer devices fortransferring the material to be pressed, in which the transfer devicesmove the dies and the material to be pressed at the same speed when thecrank devices are pressing the material to be pressed by the dies, andwhen the material to be pressed is not being pressed, the transferdevices adjust the speed of feeding the material to be pressed and movethe material by a predetermined distance L in a cycle of pressingoperations, and the said distance L is not greater than the length L0which is the reduction length of the dies in the direction of flow ofthe material to be pressed.
 57. A plate reduction pressing method, inthe pressing method of a crank type press machine that presses amaterial to be pressed while it is being transferred using dies fromboth sides in the lateral direction of the transfer line, in whichduring the pressing period, the dies are moved at the same speed as thespeed of the material to be pressed, and during the non-pressing period,the speed of feeding the material to be pressed is adjusted in such amanner that during one cycle, the material to be pressed is moved by apredetermined distance L.
 58. A plate reduction press apparatuscomprising dies arranged on both sides in the lateral direction of amaterial to be pressed, crank devices that press each of the dies in thelateral direction, and transfer devices that transfer the material to bepressed, in which the transfer devices move the material to be pressedat the same speed as the speed of the dies when the crank devices arepressing the material to be pressed in the lateral direction with thedies, and when the material to be pressed is not being pressed, thespeed of feeding the material to be pressed is adjusted, and thematerial to be pressed is moved by a predetermined distance L in onecycle of pressing operations, and the said distance L is not greaterthan the length L0 which is the reduction length of the dies in thedirection of flow of the material to be pressed.
 59. The plate reductionpress apparatus specified in claim 56 or 58, further comprising a looperthat forms a loop in the material to be pressed and adjusts the lengththereof, downstream of the said transfer devices.
 60. A plate reductionpressing method, in the pressing method of a crank type press machinethat presses a material to be pressed with upper and lower dies andtransfers the material with pinch rolls, in which during the pressingperiod, the pinch rolls rotate in such a manner that the peripheralspeed of the pinch rolls is made equal to a combination of thehorizontal speed of the dies and the elongation speed of the material tobe pressed, added or subtracted, and transfer the material to bepressed, and when the press machine is not pressing, the speed offeeding the material to be pressed is adjusted in such a manner thatduring one cycle, the material to be pressed is moved by a predetermineddistance L, and the pressing force of the pinch rolls during thepressing period is made smaller than the force thereof during thenon-pressing period.
 61. A plate reduction press apparatus comprisingdies arranged above and below a material to be pressed, crank devicesthat press each of the dies, and pinch rolls that transfer the materialto be pressed, in which when the crank devices are pressing the materialto be pressed through the dies, the pinch rolls rotate in such a mannerthat the peripheral speed of the pinch rolls is made equal to thecombination of the horizontal speed of the dies and the elongation speedof the material to be pressed, added or subtracted, and transfer thematerial to be pressed, and when the press machine is not pressing, thespeed of feeding the material to be pressed is adjusted in such a mannerthat during one cycle, the material to be pressed is moved by apredetermined distance L and the distance L is not greater than thereduction length LO of the dies in the direction of flow of the materialto be pressed, and the pressing force of the pinch rolls during thepressing period is made smaller than the pressing force during thenon-pressing period.
 62. The plate thickness press apparatus specifiedin claim 61, in which the pressing force of the said pinch rolls is madesmaller for a predetermined time t before or after the press machinebegins to press.
 63. The plate reduction press apparatus specified inclaim 61, in which the pressing force of the said pinch rolls during thepressing period is made smaller when the pressing load becomes greaterthan a predetermined load.
 64. A plate reduction press apparatuscomprising inlet transfer devices that are arranged upstream of thepress machine, and transfer a material to be pressed, and can be raisedand lowered, and outlet transfer devices that are arranged downstream ofthe press machine, and transfer the material being pressed, and can beraised and lowered, in which the said inlet transfer devices areadjusted to transfer height according to information about the thicknessof the material to be pressed, that has been input, in such a mannerthat the center line of the thickness of the material to be pressedagrees with the center line of the press machine, and the said outlettransfer devices are adjusted to a transfer height according toinformation about the thickness of the material being pressed, in such amanner that the center line of the thickness of the material agrees withthe center line of the press machine.
 65. A plate reduction pressapparatus comprising inlet transfer devices that are arranged upstreamof a press machine for pressing a material to be pressed between upperand lower dies, and transfer the material to be pressed, and can beraised and lowered, and outlet transfer devices that are arrangeddownstream of the said press machine, and transfer the material beingpressed, and can be raised and lowered, in which when the material to bepressed is passed through the press machine without being pressed, theupper and lower dies are open, and the transfer heights of the saidinlet transfer devices and the said outlet transfer devices aredetermined to be identical to each other and higher than the uppersurface of the lower die in the open position.
 66. A plate reductionpressing method, in the transfer method of the transfer devices that arearranged upstream and downstream of a press machine and can adjust thetransfer height of a material to be pressed, where both transfer devicescan transfer the material to be pressed or being pressed while thetransfer devices maintain the height of the center line of the thicknessof the material to be pressed, in an unchanged manner during transfer.67. A plate reduction pressing method, in the transfer method oftransfer devices that are arranged upstream and downstream of a pressmachine and can adjust the transfer height of a material to be pressed,in which when the material to be pressed is passed through the pressmachine, the press dies are opened vertically in such a manner that thematerial to be pressed does not contact the dies, and both transferdevices transfer the material to be pressed at the same height.